In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Benjamin Thomas, 34, of Washbourne Close, Plymouth, Devon, was returned to prison for a campaign of blackmail and grooming against a 16-year-old boy. On Tuesday, 24 February 2026, the defendant appeared at Preston Crown Court for sentencing. The court reported that Thomas, a convicted child rapist formerly of Lancashire, targeted the teenager on social media by posing as an 18-year-old before threatening to “ruin his life.”
The investigation established that Thomas initiated contact in June 2023, claiming he wanted to “meet other lads” in the Greater Manchester area. Lancashire Police reported that the conversation escalated to Thomas making threats of rape and soliciting indecent images. The prosecution reported that once Thomas obtained photos of the boy’s face and genitals, he demanded money, threatening to send the images to the victim’s family or pin them to lampposts if a cash deadline was not met.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Thomas has an extensive criminal history, including 17 previous convictions for 58 offences. Preston Crown Court heard how he was sentenced in 2012 to five years in a young offenders’ institute for the rape of a child under 13. The prosecution reported that Thomas is a serial offender who has breached his sex offender notification requirements and Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO) multiple times, often within hours of being released from custody.
Mr Recorder M Shepherd noted that Thomas’s reference to rape in his messages was particularly aggravating given his prior conviction for child rape. For his actions in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, Thomas pleaded guilty to disclosing or threatening to disclose sexual photographs with intent to cause distress. The judge noted that the defendant presents a persistent risk to the public and has shown a complete inability to comply with any court-mandated requirements or notification orders.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Benjamin Thomas was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Eight months in prison (February 2026).
- Restraining Order: A five-year order prohibiting any contact with the victim.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements remain active for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Preston Crown Court following a guilty plea.
- Origin: Washbourne Close, Plymouth, Devon (Offences committed in Greater Manchester / Lancashire).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Thomas is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at the highest level of oversight by Devon and Cornwall Police, Lancashire Police, and the National Probation Service. Due to his “catalogue” of prior sexual convictions and his repeated failure to adhere to court orders in Plymouth, Lancashire, and Manchester, his management is subject to intensive scrutiny.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Thomas must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence for the remainder of his life. Authorities state that his history of posing as a teenager to blackmail minors necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct and digital access. Any further sexual misconduct or breach of his five-year restraining order in Plymouth, Preston, Manchester, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for a significantly lengthier term of incarceration.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.