Blackmail pornography: is it a crime and what can you do?

If someone is saying “pay me or I’ll send your nudes to your family” (or “send more or I’ll post it”), treat it as a legal and safety issue, not a negotiation. In England and Wales, this can fall under blackmail and intimate image offences. According to CPS Legal Guidance on Blackmail (Theft Act offences), the test is a demand with menaces. The National Crime Agency’s sextortion guidance focuses on what works in practice: preserve evidence, cut contact, and report.  This guide shows you the quickest, safest next steps, plus your court and civil options if the threat escalates. Early advice from a criminal law solicitor can help you protect yourself and your evidence.

Quick answer: Is sextortion a crime in the UK, and what can you do?

• Yes. Sextortion (blackmail involving intimate images) is a criminal offence in many UK cases, especially where demands are backed by threats.
• Threatening to share intimate images is also a crime in England & Wales (even if the image doesn’t exist).
• Stop contact, don’t pay, save evidence, then report. This sequence reduces risk in most cases.
• If you have the image/video, use StopNCII (it sends a “hash” from your device, not your image).

Consider a confidential consultation with a criminal law solicitor (to plan reporting, evidence, and safety), a privacy/media/reputation solicitor (to seek urgent injunctions and assess civil options), or a family law solicitor (to apply for a non-molestation order if the person is an ex-partner or otherwise “associated”).

Do you have a valid blackmail pornography claim? Checklist

Tick what applies:

• They threatened to share an intimate image/video of you.
• The behaviour is repeated or escalating (this can matter for injunction options).
• They demanded money / gift cards / crypto / “pay or I’ll send it to your contacts”.
• You have evidence saved (screenshots, usernames, profile links, payment instructions, message timestamps).
• They targeted your friends/family/employer/followers (for example, they showed screenshots of your contacts).

If you tick 2+, it’s usually sensible to treat it as actionable and get structured help.

What is sextortion (blackmail pornography) and how does it work?

“Blackmail pornography” isn’t a legal label. In practice, it usually refers to sextortion, i.e. when someone threatens to share sexual or intimate images (real or claimed) unless you pay money or meet another demand.

The National Crime Agency describes this as financially motivated sexual extortion and notes it is often carried out by organised criminal groups, sometimes using hacked, digitally manipulated, or AI-generated material.

Examples of sextortion (what it often looks like)

• “Send another nude/video now or I’ll post what I have.”
• “Pay £300 today or I’ll send it to your Instagram followers.”
• “I’ve hacked your phone and recorded you; pay or your family sees it.”
• They show a screenshot of your followers list to make the threat feel real.
• They push you from a dating app into an encrypted app, then make demands fast.

Is blackmail pornography a crime? The main offences that apply (England & Wales)

If someone is threatening to share intimate images to force money or compliance, it is often a criminal offence.

1. Blackmail: the core offence in many “pay or I share it” cases

Blackmail is an unwarranted demand with menaces (threats or pressure), made with a view to gain or intent to cause loss, under the Theft Act 1968 s.21. The CPS Legal Guidance on Theft Act offences explains how prosecutors assess the key elements (demand, menaces, and whether the demand is “unwarranted”).

2. Threatening to share intimate images (including “deepfakes”)

In England and Wales, sharing or threatening to share an intimate photograph/film without consent is covered by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 s.66B (inserted via Online Safety Act reforms). It includes images that “show, or appear to show” someone in an intimate state, which is why “deepfakes” can fall within scope.

The government confirms these new offences came into effect on 31 January 2024 in the GOV.UK Online Safety Act explainer, and the College of Policing guidance summarises how the offences work and what evidence is usually important.

3. Threatening or menacing messages (often charged alongside)

Even where the main issue is sextortion, the messages themselves can be offences depending on content and channel, including Malicious Communications Act 1988 s.1 and Communications Act 2003 s.127.

What to do if you’re being sextorted (step-by-step)

Many victims feel panic or pressure to act quickly. This is exactly what offenders rely on. Focus on preserving evidence and reducing risk first.

Step 1: Pause and protect yourself

1. Stop all communication and block the account(s) on every platform.
2. Do not pay (and if you’ve paid, don’t pay more). Payment rarely ends threats and can increase demands.
3. Lock down privacy: hide follower/friends lists, restrict DMs, and limit tagging/mentions.

If you can only do one thing right now, take screenshots first (they can vanish fast).

Step 2: Save evidence (this matters more than perfect wording)

Capture and keep:

• screenshots of threats and demands.
• usernames/handles and profile URLs.
• any links/URLs if something was posted (collect links, don’t circulate them).
• payment details requested (bank account, crypto address, gift card instructions).

Don’t delete your account if it may destroy evidence; deactivating can preserve data while stopping contact.

Step 3: Report it (police + fraud routes) and what happens next

Report in this order:

• 999 if you’re in immediate danger.
• Otherwise report to your local police via 101.
• If money is involved, also report via Action Fraud (fraud/cybercrime reporting).
• Report the account and content on the platform (e.g. Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook), which often have specific sextortion policies.

What typically happens after reporting (realistic expectations):

• Police usually triage immediate risk first (for example: credible threats to contact family/work, escalation, vulnerability).
• You may be asked early for screenshots, account identifiers, and payment details. Evidence often drives pace.
• Some cases move quickly; others take longer (especially with overseas suspects or throwaway accounts).
• Not every report leads to prosecution, but reporting creates a record and can support takedown and injunction steps.

Don’t forward intimate images to friends “for advice”. Keep sharing limited to police, your solicitor, and platform reporting tools.

Step 4: Reduce the chance of upload/sharing (StopNCII)

If you have the original image/video file, use StopNCII:

• it generates a hash on your device and sends the hash (not the image).
• participating platforms look for matches and remove/stop uploads under their policies.
• it doesn’t cover the whole internet, only participating platforms.

How to stop someone sharing intimate images: injunctions, takedowns and compensation (UK)

If you’ve already saved evidence, the next step is choosing remedies that (a) reduce re‑upload risk, and (b) recover money or win compensation.

• Court orders to stop contact/sharing (injunctions)
  • Harassment injunction (plus possible damages) under Protection from Harassment Act 1997 s.3.
  • Non‑molestation order for ex‑partners/associated persons under Family Law Act 1996 s.42.
  • Privacy injunction (misuse of private information) where needed. See the approach in PJS v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2016] UKSC 26.
• Civil compensation (when the person is identifiable/enforceable): claims may be viable for distress and financial loss; a leading image‑based abuse example is FGX v Gaunt [2023] EWHC 419 (KB) with a total award of £97,041.61.
• Device and image seizure (criminal cases): courts can order offenders to surrender devices containing intimate images (Sentencing Act 2020 s.153). The CPS has emphasised using these powers in image abuse cases.
• Fraud reporting (if money was paid/attempted): add an Action Fraud report to support the financial‑loss side of the case.

What not to do if you’re being sextorted (common errors)

Most situations escalate for one reason: the offender realises you’ll engage, pay, or generate new material. The aim is to keep control, preserve leverage for you (evidence), and avoid actions that make the threat more profitable.

• Paying once “to make it stop”: this often signals you’re willing to pay again and can trigger higher demands. Better: stop engagement, preserve evidence, and switch to formal routes.
• Deleting chats/accounts before you capture evidence: you can lose the clearest proof of the demand, threats, and payment instructions. Better: screenshot first (including usernames/handles and profile URLs), then lock down accounts.
• Sending more images/videos to “buy time”: it usually creates fresh leverage and can widen the risk (more files, more platforms, more pressure). Better: stop producing new material immediately and move to prevention (e.g., hashing/takedown tools).
• Waiting too long to contact your bank if you paid (especially by bank transfer): delays can reduce recovery options and slow the bank’s fraud process. Better: contact your bank promptly with the timeline and payment references.

FAQs

What is sexual blackmail? Sexual blackmail (often called “sextortion”) is when someone uses intimate images or sexual information (real or claimed) to pressure you into money or compliance, matching the NCA description of financially motivated sextortion.

Is sexual blackmail a crime? Yes, in many cases. It can amount to blackmail and/or an offence of threatening to share intimate images under UK law.

What if the images don’t exist? Threat offences can still apply. S.66B explicitly says the image’s existence does not need to be proved for the threat offence.

This article is for general UK information only and isn’t legal advice. Outcomes depend on your facts, get tailored advice from a qualified solicitor before acting.

Sextortion threats are designed to trigger panic, but UK law and practical tools give you options. Preserve evidence, cut contact, prevent uploads, and use injunctions or civil claims when needed. Act promptly, especially if money has been paid, to improve recovery chances and reduce further risk.

Connect with a specialist solicitor

If the threat is escalating, you need an injunction, or money has been paid, a short confidential consultation via Qredible’s network of UK solicitors can clarify your best route, the right specialist, and the exact evidence to prioritise.

NEXT STEPS:

• Lock in an “evidence pack”: screenshot the demand/threats, capture usernames + profile links, save any URLs and payment instructions, then store it somewhere safe (and don’t delete chats until you’ve captured them).
• Reduce upload/re‑upload risk today: run StopNCII if you have the original file(s), and submit platform reports for the account/content (hash-based matching; coverage varies by platform).
• Choose your next step and act within 24 hours: if there’s a real publication risk or an ex‑partner/known person, get legal advice on injunction options; if you paid by bank transfer, contact your bank immediately about APP scam reimbursement protections (scope/exceptions apply).