A VILE predator who tricked dozens of boys into sending sexualised images of themselves has been put behind bars for 21 years. 

Jay Lang, 24, of Thorney Bay Road, Canvey, posed as a 16-year-old girl named ‘Chloe Norris’ and messaged hundreds of boys between April 2018 and November 2021.

During those conversations, Lang, disguised as Norris, pursued sexualised conversations on Snapchat and Instagram and would ask the boys to reciprocate with images and videos.

Some of the victims were as young as 11.

A total of 26 victims provided evidence and Lang was charged with 46 offences including numerous counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing or inciting child sexual exploitation, arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence, causing or inciting child prostitution of pornography and blackmail.

He appeared in Basildon Crown Court on Friday, September 22, to be sentenced.

Marc Brown, prosecuting, said: “The defendant used a screen recording app called XRecorder which ensured the victims were not notified when footage was taken.

“The offending came to light in November 2021 when one of the victims reported to the police and told officers he exchanged videos with the Chloe Norris Snapchat profile.

“The investigation was passed on to the Child Sexual Exploitation Proactive Investigation Team who uncovered 540 videos and 140,000 images on devices confiscated from the defendant.”

A ‘complex’ and ‘sensitive’ investigation followed with 220 potential victims identified.

Police would identify individual victims depicted in images and videos, and once identified officers would visit their addresses with a social care team.

The 26 victims provided evidential accounts by pre-recorded video interview.

Most identified victims are from Canvey Island, Benfleet, Basildon and Southend.

Judge Samantha Cohen sentenced Lang to for 21 years with an extended licence period of six years.

He has been made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and is on the sex offenders register for life.

She said: “You are a predatory manipulative and dangerous young man who has wreaked havoc on the lives of these children and their families.

"This has caused them anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, thoughts of self harm and suicide attempts.

"You also told a doctor your motivation for committing these acts was the power and control you exerted over the victims, which you found arousing."