Croydon teenager admits encouraging self-harm on apps

A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to encouraging self-harm and making indecent photographs of a child. The teenager appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 20. He admitted two counts of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm and three counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

Details of the offences

The offences are alleged to have occurred in Croydon between October 2024. At the time of the incidents, the boy was 13 years old. The court heard that communications involving the boy took place on messaging applications Telegram and Discord. He pleaded guilty to the charges on a specific basis. The boy denied two further counts of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm.

The charge of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm was introduced under section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023. In England, serious self-harm is defined as harm amounting to grievous bodily harm under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

Next steps

A further hearing in the case is scheduled to take place at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on September 10. The boy was granted conditional bail.