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Online predator whose 'catfish' abuse drove American father and daughter to take their own lives jailed

Sky News
Summary
Nutrition label

60% Informative

Alexander McCartney , 26 , posed as someone else online (known as catfishing) He pretended to be a young girl to persuade victims to send him images.

He then blackmailed them into sending more graphic material.

Cimarron Thomas , 12 , shot herself with her father's gun, instead of complying with his demands.

Her father Ben Thomas , a former US Army veteran, died by suicide 18 months later .

McCartney pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter, 59 of blackmail and 70 of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

VR Score

52

Informative language

45

Neutral language

48

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

42

Offensive language

offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

short-lived

Source diversity

1

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