Sexting scam at Derbyshire school investigated by police

Detectives examine allegations dozens of boys and girls at John Port School in Etwall asked to send explicit images on Instagram and other social networks

The teenager sent the image via her phone, but after the couple had a row, he forwarded it to his friends
Pupils at John Port School in Derbyshire have been sent explicit images on social networks Credit: Photo: Alamy

A police investigation is under way after it was revealed dozens of secondary school pupils have been targeted in a string of "sexting" attacks.

Detectives are examining four separate allegations that both boys and girls have been sent explicit images via mobile phones and social networking sites and asked to send them back in return.

Senior teachers at John Port School in Etwall, Derbyshire, revealed that officers have arrested one man in connection with the alleged offences.

Now bosses at the school - the biggest in Derbyshire - have outlined the state of the investigation to worried parents.

It is understood one individual contacted several girls at the school claiming to have a variety of images of them and threatening that, if they did not send him more, he would publish them on the internet.

Three individuals using the names of "Josh Darlow", "James Smith" and "Harry Paterson" have contacted or 'followed' a number of students on Instagram.

They claim to be students, although there is no one on the school roll under those names.

Another individual calling herself "Evieeeeeppp" has contacted a number of male students offering them images of herself in return for intimate pictures of them.

John Foxon, assistant head teacher, said: "There are four current issues the police are investigating and which involve some of our pupils.

"An individual contacted a number of girls to say that he had obtained inappropriate images of them which he was prepared to publicise widely unless they provided him with further images.

"The girls were sensible enough to report this and the police have since arrested someone in connection with the offence.

"Following reports that inappropriate images of some of our girls were being circulated we approached a number of boys and, having found such images, have passed their mobile devices to the police for further investigation.

"All of the girls who were involved described being pressurised into sending the images. Three individuals have contacted or followed a number of students on Instagram.

"They claim to be John Port pupils, although we do not have anyone on roll under their names. These individuals have sent some indecent male images to some of the students and requested indecent images in return.

"An individual has contacted a number of male students offering them images of herself in return for intimate pictures of them. The likelihood is that this individual is probably an adult male."

A letter is now being sent home to all parents and carers regarding the "recent issues experienced by a number of students in relation to social media".

A Derbyshire Police spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are aware of the incidents and an investigation is under way."