Tyler Webb sentenced to nine years imprisonment after persuading victim to attempt suicide online

A 23-year-old man who convinced his victim to attempt suicide and seriously self-harm online has become the first person sentenced under new internet safety laws.

Warning: This story contains details of encouraging self-harm and suicide which some readers might find disturbing

Tyler Webb, from Loughborough, Leicestershire, was sentenced to nine years and four months imprisonment, subject to a hospital order.

He will be taken back to the secure mental health hospital where he is being treated in Chesterfield.

Once his doctors decide he is well enough to be discharged, he will serve out whatever time he has left in prison and will then be assessed by a board as to whether he is fit to be released.

Webb is the first person in the country to be charged with encouraging serious self-harm online under Section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023.

He was also charged with encouraging suicide and pleaded guilty to both charges in May.

During the sentencing at Leicester Crown Court, Webb was flanked by six officers and spent most of the hearing on the floor, which the defence described as a coping mechanism for his mental health issues.

Grooming his victim

After meeting his victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons - in an online forum dedicated to mental health last year, Webb began grooming her over several weeks and persuaded her to self-harm.

The resulting injury had to be treated in hospital with stitches.

The victim sent Webb a photograph of her injury, which prosecutors said showed he knew he had power over her.

He repeatedly instructed her to self-harm and got annoyed when she did it without being told to, meaning he couldn't watch.

Webb then convinced his victim to kill herself over a live video call while he watched. The suicide attempt failed, but only by chance, and the woman passed out on the call.

When she came to, Webb told her to try again.

The judge on Friday described Webb's actions as "sexually motivated" and said he wanted to see his victim die.

Webb repeatedly told her she had nothing to live for and gave her methods to end her life, according to the CPS, while his victim said in a statement: "He told me that my only value was in dying for his entertainment."

"Tyler Webb is a person who is manipulative, he's dangerous, he takes gratification in seeing other people hurt themselves," said CPS prosecutor Alex Johnson.

"He's a very dangerous person."

In one 44-minute phone call, Webb persistently tried to get the woman to end her own life.

When it became apparent she would not do so, he said he would block contact with her and threatened to move on to another victim instead.

The woman then reported the interactions to the police, and Webb was arrested at his home by the Leicestershire force.

After sending a recording of a call with Webb to the police, his victim listened to it again, concerned she had blown the call out of proportion.

"She felt so guilty for getting him in trouble that she wanted to listen to the recording to see if she remembered it as being as bad as it was," said DC Lauren Hampton from Leicestershire Police.

When she did that, the effect that he had had on her continued, and Webb's victim followed his instructions again.

This further suicide attempt resulted in her being in intensive care for several days, according to DC Hampton.

"This wasn't some sort of fantasy or role play," said Mr Johnson of the CPS.

"A search of Tyler Webb's digital devices showed that he had drawings and images depicting hangings and decapitations and sexual violence against women."

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A statement by Webb's victim that was read out in court said: "My life is ruined. My mind and body have been severely damaged. I think about it every day.

"There will never be another second on this earth where I don't have to live with the pain of what happened."

The police praised her bravery in coming forward and said she may well have saved the lives of other women.

Why is the sentencing so significant?

This sentencing isn't just an important moment for Webb's victim, who police say likely saved others from being targeted by the predator; it is also the first time the 2023 Online Safety Act has been tested in court.

"This conviction shows that we have an effective new tool to use against people who are determined to cause this sort of harm online," said Mr Johnson.

Although encouraging suicide has been a criminal offence since 1961, encouraging self-harm online only became a specific offence two years ago.

Since Webb's charge on 12 July 2024, others have been arrested and charged with the new offence.

"The internet proliferates offending, allowing access to extreme materials and instant communication with others that can both facilitate genuine predators, and lead sick and vulnerable individuals to commit terrible crimes," said criminal defence lawyer Marcus Johnstone of PCD Solicitors, who specialises in sexual crimes.

"Webb's conviction means he can now get the treatment he needs, but there are many others like him and there are neither the resources nor the facilities to stop them all."

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

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