Overview
- Fernandes, 41, was jailed for life at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday, with a minimum term of 13 years and eight months.
- He pleaded guilty in November 2025 to 67 additional offences after investigators examined devices seized at his 2020 arrest, which followed a 13‑year‑old’s report in Garland, Texas.
- Prosecutors said he posed as a teen on the Kik app to groom girls, used threats and blackmail to force sexual images, and ordered degrading punishments.
- Victims were identified in the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, and Norway, with ages reported by the CPS as between one and 16.
- The NCA said the inquiry has identified hundreds of victims worldwide for safeguarding, highlighting the scale of online child exploitation and the need for ongoing international work.