No mercy for tragic victims like Ronan, 17

THERE have been a series of tragedies triggered by sextortion in which teenagers have taken their own lives out of shame.

- NICK SOMMERLAD 

Ronan Hughes, 17, from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, killed himself in 2015 after he was targeted on Facebook by a gang in Romania.

They threatened to release his pictures to his family unless he sent them £3400 in a cyber currency. Ronan told them: "I'm only 17, please, I'm begging you - don't." But the blackmailer replied: "That's not my problem. Foolishness has a price. And you'll pay.

"Do you want to tell your mother or will I? You have 48 hours from now. Time is running out!" Ronan was found dead in a field near his home.