Austen Tobias, the Fleming Kilsyth Paedophile, a Brave British Army Soldier assigned to North Yorkshire, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after confessing to 83 cyber-enabled offences related to child sexual abuse and exploitation around the UK.
Austen Tobias Fleming, 28, of Stirling Road, Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on 21 October 2025.
In addition to the custodial term, he is required to serve an additional three years on licence, is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and is registered as a sex offender for life.
The Judge praised the North Yorkshire Police investigating team throughout the sentencing.
Austen Tobias Fleming was stationed at Dishforth Airfield, near Thirsk, when the Online Child Abuse Team (OCAT) acted on intelligence indicating that he had attempted to extort pornographic pictures from a minor.
Austen Tobias Fleming was apprehended on 14 November 2022, and his residence was searched for evidence.
Upon examining the discovered digital devices, detectives swiftly discerned that his criminal activities were extensive, affecting victims nationwide, all of whom needed identification and protection.
Officers determined that Austen Tobias Fleming created numerous fraudulent social media personas, including those of females, and was manipulating minors into transmitting indecent photographs and videos of themselves.
He would clandestinely document his encounters with them to utilise as leverage for extorting additional explicit material from his victims.
When the minors declined, Austen Tobias Fleming would threaten to disseminate the photographs previously transmitted to their relatives or offer little cash or vouchers to get additional indecent material from his victims.
Austen Tobias Fleming was additionally apprehended on suspicion of producing indecent photos of minors and enabling a child sexual crime. He was interrogated and released on bail as the inquiry escalated to gather evidence and ascertain the victims.
The inquiry determined that Austen Tobias Fleming’s offences occurred from December 2020 to January 2023, highlighting his persistent interest in child sexual assault material.
As evidence accumulated, Austen Tobias Fleming was re-arrested on 16 December 2024 for various charges, including extortion, inducing a child to participate in sexual conduct, facilitating child exploitation, and disseminating obscene photos of minors.
He responded with ‘no remark’ to all enquiries posed during the police interview, including those concerning the unsettling testimonies of his victims.
One victim was so severely scarred by Austen Tobias Fleming’s threats that he attempted suicide. Others were left weeping and trembling with terror due to his actions.
The youngest of Austen Tobias Fleming’s numerous victims was about 10 years old, while the oldest was only 17.
They originated from many regions of Scotland, Wales, and England, encompassing Kent, London, Surrey, Sussex, Lincolnshire, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Nottingham, Cheshire, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Humberside, Durham, and North Yorkshire.
Austen Tobias Fleming was charged with:
- 25 counts of an adult inciting a child to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature.
- 23 counts of causing sexual exploitation of a child to transmit an indecent image of themselves.
- 5 counts of an adult inciting a child to engage in sexual activity with penetration.
- 1 count of obtaining the sexual services of a child by payment.
- 5 counts of making unwarranted demands with menaces.
- 2 counts of intentionally causing a child to look at sexual activity.
- 1 count of making an indecent image of a child – Category A
- 1 count of distributing an indecent image of a child – Category A
- 11 counts of making an indecent image of a child – Category B
- 9 counts of making an indecent image of a child – Category C
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