A man from Oldham who threatened children into sending him indecent images has been jailed.
Ryan Greenhow appeared at Mancherster Crown Court today (February 24) after previously pleading guilty to 22 counts of non-contact child sex offences.
Between November 2024 and March 2025, Greenhow contacted six victims via social media platforms including WhatsApp, TikTok and Snapchat.
The 37-year-old would send the victims, aged between 12-15, an indecent image, making claims that the image depicted them when it was a picture of a naked woman obtained from the internet.
Greenhow threatened to send the image to their friends and family if the victims did not do as he said.
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He made demands for indecent images from victims located in areas across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Buckinghamshire by sending numerous text messages threatening his victims.
Greenhow's threats included saying “This is your last chance, everyone will know this is you” and “I have seen your nudes, add me”.
On some occasions the victim would respond by saying they did not know what Greenhow was talking about, but kept receiving messages telling them that it was their “last chance”.
Some of the victims sent the defendant images and reported his activity to their parents, carers and school teachers.
Greenhow was jailed for seven years and four months for crimes including child sexual exploitation, sharing images or film to cause alarm, causing or inciting a child aged under 16 to engage in sexual activity and malicious communications.
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Detective Constable Adair, of Greater Manchester Police's City of Manchester Division, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank the victims in this case for coming forward, reporting their ordeal to the police and allowing us to investigate, resulting in today’s sentencing.
“Greenhow used several different social media platforms pretending to be a 15-year-old boy and followed the same method with each of his victims – sending them random images obtained from the internet, falsely attributing them to the victim, then threatening to share the image with the victim’s friends and family in exchange for an indecent image of the victim.
“Once our investigation was underway, detailed phone analysis led to us identifying further victims. Officers worked to safeguard these victims from any further harm.
“This sentencing is part of our wider work to tackle child sexual exploitation and we’re committed to protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice."
Support available
If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, you are encouraged not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.
- Speak to Greater Manchester Police by calling 101 or use the LiveChat function at gmp.police.uk. Reports can also be made anonymously through the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
- Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.
- Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk.
- We are Survivors provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.
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