A sex offender from Snodland, Kent, has been jailed for abusing children online after officers recognized the bedroom wallpaper in images he sent to his victims.

Jack Hickey, 28, of Woodlands Avenue, created a profile on Chat Avenue, an online chatroom service, and targeted users he believed to be teenage boys. After convincing his victims to communicate via Snapchat, Hickey began sending them sexually explicit messages and indecent images of himself.

An investigation by digital forensic analysts identified Hickey and matched the wallpaper in one of the images to that in his bedroom. He was arrested at his address on November 30, 2023, and made subject to sex offender notification requirements while awaiting sentencing.

Between November 15 and 19, 2024, Hickey created another Snapchat account to communicate with what he believed to be another teenage boy, breaching his conditions. He bombarded this target with lewd messages, asking them to take part in video calls and explicit photographs while wearing a school uniform.

Hickey eventually arranged to meet his victim in Canterbury after dark. However, officers were waiting at the agreed meeting point and arrested him.

Hickey pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; causing a child to look at an image of a person engaging in sexual activity; making indecent photographs; arranging a child sex offence; attempting to meet a child; and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was sentenced to four years and 10 months' imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court on February 19, 2025.

Detective Constable Steph Kirkin said: 'Hickey is a predator who targeted victims he believed to be young and vulnerable. He repeatedly sent his victims a barrage of lewd messages in a bid to coerce them into sharing content for his own gratification. Despite being captured and registered as a sex offender, Hickey shamelessly continued his abhorrent behaviour, resulting in a swift remand and custodial sentence.'