Malvern sex offender jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to child-related offences
Michael Farney committed offences involving girls as young as six
Michael Farney, a 51-year-old from Malvern, has been sentenced to over nine years in prison after pleading guilty to a series of offences against children.
Farney admitted to 24 charges at Worcester Crown Court, including inciting young girls to engage in sexual activity and taking indecent photographs.
His offences, committed between December 2025 and March 2026, involved children as young as six.
Farney used Snapchat to share indecent images and videos, inciting the children to engage in sexual acts.
He was arrested in March 2026 after West Mercia Police's Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET) linked his account to a 14-year-old.
Subsequent investigations revealed that he had engaged in online conversations and video calls with hundreds of young girls.
Farney's phone contained 40 indecent images, six of which were classified as Category A, the most extreme.
After pleading guilty, his initial 14-year sentence was reduced due to the plea agreement.
Farney has also been given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be entered into the sex offenders register for life.
Detective Constable William Thomas commented on the case, saying: "Farney’s predatory behaviour caused harm to a large number of child victims, but we were able to act swiftly and build an investigation which has put him in jail, where he can cause no further harm."
He emphasised the importance of awareness, adding: "It's vital we all play our part in keeping children safe. Make sure you understand the platforms your children are using, and create an environment where children feel comfortable talking and raising concerns."
Concerns about online exploitation, grooming, or abuse can be reported to the police via 101, or by calling 999 in emergencies.