A man from Uppingham, who spent months preparing an intricate network of fake identities online before targeting and sexually assaulting a woman, has been jailed.
A man in Uppingham who bombarded a woman with multiple fake messages on social media before luring her to his home where he sexually assaulted her, has been jailed.
22-year-old Daniel Storer spent 10 months creating fake accounts on social media to make contact with her including stealing the identities of real people, pretending to be a police officer and a paramedic. The assault happened in December 2020. The victim managed to make an audio recording of the attack and contacted police.
At Leicester Crown Court last Friday, Storer pleaded guilty to stalking, involving fear of violence and to sexual assault. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment with an extended three year licence period. He also received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was issued a restraining order forbidding him from contacting the victim.
Storer’s behaviour is known as Catfishing. This is a deceptive activity where a person creates a fake identity on social media, usually targeting a specific victim with a view to stealing money, assaulting, or otherwise compromising the victim. Celebrities are common targets of catfishing which has raised the media profile of this dangerous practice.
For more information on catfishing and how to help protect yourself or others, please click here: Catfish scams: How to spot a catfish | Age UK
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