Famend comedy hypnotist Robert Temple, who not too long ago made headlines for overturning a ban on his stage performances, has been sentenced to eight months in jail for identification theft and the exploitation of girls on-line.
Temple admitted to hacking into girls’s e mail and social media accounts, stealing their identification paperwork, and illicitly acquiring express photos, which he then traded for cryptocurrency.
At Teesside Crown Courtroom, Temple was described by prosecutors as “insidious” for his actions, which included hacking into the Snapchat accounts of two girls and downloading their non-public pictures, together with topless and nude photos, on the market on the web.
Regardless of his comedic popularity, Temple’s felony actions have shocked many, particularly contemplating his latest profitable enchantment towards a ban on his hypnotism performances, permitting him to stage exhibits in Bolton.
The court docket heard how Temple used his “dazzling hypnotic potential” to control viewers members, claiming to make them “lose all inhibitions.” Nonetheless, behind the facade, Temple engaged in fraudulent actions, resulting in his imprisonment for 3 counts of fraud, two counts of hacking, and one depend of concealing felony property.
One sufferer, Ellie Norman, recounted her expertise of being contacted by police in March 2022, informing her that Temple had hacked into her e mail account and stolen photos of her picture ID, which she had despatched to a former employer six years earlier.
Temple had assumed Norman’s identification to determine cryptocurrency accounts and revenue from the sale of express photos. Norman, who had by no means met Temple, was initially approached by somebody claiming to be “Emma Collins,” providing alternatives with a modeling company. Unbeknownst to her, Temple was behind the fraudulent scheme.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Norman emphasised the significance of securing on-line accounts with sturdy passwords, as Temple had possible guessed hers, which was based mostly on a pet’s title and numbers.
Annette Thomas, senior crown prosecutor, condemned Temple’s actions as “totally reprehensible,” highlighting the exploitation of unsuspecting girls for monetary achieve. She reiterated the dedication of regulation enforcement to pursue justice for cybercrime victims.
Detective Inspector Jonathan Naylor underscored the prevalence of on-line hacking and urged people to safeguard their accounts with robust passwords and two-step verification to mitigate the danger of cybercriminal exercise.
Temple’s case serves as a stark reminder of the risks lurking within the digital realm and the necessity for vigilance in defending private info on-line.