Sex predator who committed string of vile attacks on girls as young as 8 jailed

19 January 2024 , 14:23

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Anthony 'Danny' Burns, 39, worked with notorious online child sex offender Adbul Elahi (Image: PA)

An online predator who blackmailed and abused children as young as 8, as well as adults, has been jailed for more than two decades.

Sick Anthony 'Danny' Burns, 39, worked with notorious online child sex offender Adbul Elahi, who was jailed for 32 years in December 2021 after targeting 2,000 people globally to commit sadistic online abuse. Elahi is said to have "tutored" Burns on the psychology of blackmail.

Between May 2018 and March 2023, Burns used so-called "sugar daddy" websites to snare dozens of females into performing degrading sexual acts, who would bow down to his demands after he blackmailed and threatened them. He would then immediately ask them to transfer the conversation to WhatsApp where he would start to request nude imagery from them.

Burns also sent other indecent images of children to victims and made requests for them to abuse children or perform sexual acts with animals, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). It is said the sick pervert attempted to contact around 600 people around the world, in order to sexually exploit them.

He employed techniques such as scripted wording to help gain the trust of victims, and provided instruction on how they would respond to threats and what to say to them. The CPS authorised the charges against Burns, formerly of Lowestoft in Suffolk, following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation. However, the probe identified 40 victims of Burns’ offending around the world - with most of his victims based in the UK.

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Burns was charged with 46 counts including blackmail, attempted blackmail, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, as well as arranging the commission of a child sex offence; making and distributing indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornography, malicious communications offences and failure to comply with notification requirements.

A National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation identified 40 victims of Burns’ offending around the world, with most victims based in the UK (BPM Media)

Upon his arrest, authorities seized various pieces of digital equipment, including phones, which provided digital evidence linking the defendant to the offences. These included chat logs, more than a thousand IIOC and extreme pornography involving sexual activity with animals. The evidence was used to build a case against Burns, which led to his conviction on January 19, 2023

Burns admitted 39 offences and was found guilty by a jury of two. On Friday he was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment, plus a five-year extended licence, for 41 offences including blackmail, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, causing sexual exploitation of a child and making and distributing indecent images of a child (IIOC).

Following his conviction, Robert Slater, NCA Operations Manager, said: “Anthony Burns was a revolting sexual offender. My first thoughts go out to his victims, many of whom showed immense courage by providing vital evidence to secure his conviction. The control he sought over them, some of whom were young children, was sinister, manipulative and heartless. Cases like these harden the NCA’s determination to pursue the highest harm sexual offenders, including those who use technology nefariously in an attempt to hide their activities, and make them accountable for their disgusting crimes.

“Anyone being pressured or threatened into sending sexual images or videos online, should try to remove themselves immediately from the conversation, not respond further to any contact, and report the matter to police. You are not alone, you are not to blame and help is always available.”

Specialist prosecutor for the CPS, Bethany Raine, said: “Anthony Burns had an obsessive interest in controlling women and children into performing increasingly degrading sexual acts online for his own gratification. Burns belittled and humiliated women. They became trapped in a web of fear where their own images became tools of manipulation and extortion, leaving them vulnerable to his depraved demands. His conviction sends a clear message that the CPS is committed in bringing offenders like Burns, who sexually abuse and exploit victims, to justice, wherever that abuse takes place.”

Joseph Gamp