Teenager was 'bombarded with video calls and messages' from sextortion scam blackmailer before taking his own life, coroner says - as government vows it is 'committed' to making online world safer for children

A teenager was 'bombarded with video calls and messages' from a sextortion scam blackmailer before taking his own life, a coroner has said.Cai Rhys Davies, 18, sent intimate pictures and videos to a woman posing as a would-be romantic interest on a fake dating site. The teen then received messages from the blackmailers, based in West Africa, demanding he send money to stop them releasing the images on YouTube and to his friends.Cai attempted to take his own life in his bedroom on the same day the scammers, who were based in the Ivory Coast, sent the demand in May last year.He died four days later in hospital - with his cause of death given as a brain injury.Assistant coroner Rachel Knight recorded a conclusion of suicide and said it was 'more likely than not' that personal stresses in his life, together with falling victim to the sextortion scam, 'more than minimally contributed' to his death. Following the inquest, in Pontypridd, South Wales, the coroner sent a Regulation 28 report to the UK and Welsh governments about whether there is sufficient public knowledge about such scams. She wrote of the scammers: 'Conversation quickly turned sexual and she asked him for intimate images, which were then used to blackmail him for money by threatening to send the images to his family and friends and to upload them to a YouTube channel. Cai Rhys Davies, 18, sent intimate pictures and videos to a woman posing as a would-be romantic interest on a fake dating site'The images were indeed sent to at least one of Cai's Facebook friends by the scammer.'Cai was bombarded with video calls and messages via Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp over a very short period of time, making demands for money.'In response, online safety minister Ian Murray set out several recent measures the UK Government had taken to protect children and young people.These included criminalising the taking of intimate images without consent, a requirement for online platforms to remove those images, and the introduction of the Online Safety Act.Mr Murray wrote: 'The circumstances surrounding Cai's death are profoundly troubling, and I am grateful to you for drawing these matters to my attention.'As the minister responsible, the Government and I are fully committed to making the online world as safe as it can be for everyone, especially children and young people.' The inquest heard Cai, a keen footballer, had suffered double tragedy as a young child when both his parents died one year apart from each other.His mother died from suicide when he was four and his father from sepsis when he was five. He was raised by his grandparents.His brother Ethan Davies said Cai didn't speak about the loss of his parents, couldn't control his emotions, and said he struggled with ADHD and behavioural issues.Rachel Denner, Cai's former support worker at school, said she received a Facebook message from him on May 29, along with a message request from someone using the name 'Melissa Calvert'.Cai had sent her messages asking whether she had received a message from Melissa Calvert and whether she had opened it.When she opened the message the next day, there was an intimate picture and video.DC Jack Cotton, a criminal investigator, told the inquest the name Melissa Calvert was likely to be a fake name and said Cai had been the victim of a blackmail sextortion scam carried out by a 'large-scale operation in the Ivory Coast'.He said someone would have created a false Facebook account pretending to be a white woman from London of a similar age to Cai.DC Cotton said they hadn't been able to retrieve all the messages, but the conversation would likely quickly have turned sexual.He believed Cai sent intimate photos later used to blackmail him.IP address details and phone numbers tracked the account back to the Ivory Coast.On the evening of May 29, the blackmailer threatened to release videos of him if he didn't pay them.They told Cai they would send the video to his family and friends and post it on YouTube, adding that it would 'ruin his life'.Cai said he didn't have the money and told them he couldn't send anything because he was in hospital with his grandmother.His last interaction with the blackmailer was at 9.30am on May 30 - hours before Cai was found in his bedroom at Llantrisant, near Pontypridd.DC Cotton said if the phone had been based in the UK, they would've been able to pursue criminal proceedings, but they could not identify who they were and could not bring any prosecution against them.The inquest was told that when Cai was around 12 years old, he started to struggle with low moods and had started taking cannabis and drinking alcohol.Ethan said he noticed his brother appeared to be struggling 'more than usual' before he took his own life.He said being a victim of the sextortion may have contributed to his brother feeling low.South Wales coroner Rachel Knight said Cai had a 'difficult and traumatic childhood'. She concluded: 'I find that it was more likely than not that personal stress in his life and becoming the victim of a sextortion scam more than minimally contributed to his death by suicide.'Ms Knight said she thought there was a lack of education in the general public about sextortion blackmail.The Welsh Government said issues around telecommunications and internet services were reserved to Westminster, but Senedd ministers are committed to reducing online harm in Wales.Education minister Anna Brychan and culture minister Heledd Fychan said: 'The Welsh Government will continue to engage with the UK Government and Ofcom on current and emerging online safety risks and their implications for devolved responsibilities.'We are considering the implications for devolved responsibilities of legislative proposals by the UK Government relating to children and young people's access to social media and certain high-risk online features.'We will continue to consider emerging evidence, including evidence about the potential effects of online safety measures on suicide prevention and self-harm and the risk of unintended consequences.'The ministers said the Welsh Government would be reviewing existing guidance, as well as developing fresh online safety guidance for schools, and a new national online safety programme.'These actions will form part of the Welsh Government's wider commitment to strengthening digital resilience, preventing harm and helping people affected by online exploitation to access appropriate support,' they said.'We will continue to review our approach as the evidence and nature of online risks develop.'For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support