Ayrshire Post

Facebook blackmaile­r targeted a disabled teen

Asked for naked photograph­s

- Sarah Hilley

A blackmaile­r stole a girl’s identity online to dupe a disabled young man into sending her naked photos.

Twisted Rhianna Cannell, of Ayr, set up a fake Facebook profile and pretended to be another teenage girl.

The 18- year- old girl who she was impersonat­ing ended up being held by police over Cannell’s complicate­d and twisted Internet scam. Cannell, 19, used the girls’ identity to send flirty messages to a 24- year- old man who has Aspergers Syndrome.

He was lured into sending her private pictures, which she then threatened to share with others if he didn’t pay out.

She extorted him out of £ 100.

But her twisted triangle was uncovered and she will face justice next month.

Cannell carried out the extortion racket between September 27 and October 12 at Westwood Crescent in Dalmilling and elsewhere.

While masqueradi­ng as the other girl the Facebook fiend promised to meet the man on the condition he send naked pictures of his body.

She lured him into sending the photos and tricked him into going to an address to meet his so- called online date.

Appearing at Ayr Sheriff Court, Cannell admitted setting up the fake accounts in the other girls’ name, pretending to be her, repeatedly sending the young man messages in her name and requesting photos of his private parts. She pled guilty to arranging to meet him, inducing him to send intimate pictures, persuading him to go to a meet up place and blackmaili­ng him out of £ 100. The con artist also admitted causing the girl she impersonat­ed to be detained and interviewe­d by the police.

Cannell, of Macadam Place, Wallacetow­n will be sentenced next month. Reports have been ordered on her background.

 ??  ?? Blackmaile­r Cannell Rhianna
Blackmaile­r Cannell Rhianna

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