Minor accused of 81 crimes in Porto, including 76 child sexual abuse material offences and incitement to self-harm
A 17-year-old was accused by prosecutors of 81 crimes committed via Discord and Telegram between 2024 and 2025. He was held in preventive custody.
Young man accused of creating self-harm tutorials and distributing child sexual abuse material
The Public Prosecution Service in Porto has accused a 17-year-old of 81 crimes committed through digital platforms between 2024 and 2025, according to Correio da Manhã. The charges include 76 child sexual abuse material offences — the majority in aggravated form — one crime of discrimination and incitement to hatred and violence, and four coercion offences.
According to the accusation, the defendant created numerous profiles on Discord and Telegram with the aim of engaging in incitement to hatred, violence and the distribution of child sexual abuse material. The crimes were directed "especially against young females and victims with emotional vulnerability, inciting them to practise self-harm," the Public Prosecution Service states.
Step-by-step self-harm tutorial sent to victims
To carry out the campaign, the defendant produced a video tutorial with a sequence of images where he "explained step by step the self-harm technique, which he sent to the victims to follow his instructions". The material included images of cuts that the victims should make on their own bodies, also indicating the "intensity of the respective bleeding". The cuts were, according to the accusation, "allusive to drawings, names and images associated with the defendant's profile".
The young man also coerced four victims into practising self-harm or engaging in acts of a sexual nature.
Digital folders with material depicting children under 14 years old
During the investigation, several digital folders containing videos and photographs of child sexual abuse material were found in the defendant's possession. The content depicted "children under 14 years old, engaged in explicit sexual acts with adults and/or exposing their genitals", the accusation describes.
The Public Prosecution Service also notes that the defendant "distributed and requested, including from minors, the sending of photographs, films or recordings of child sexual abuse material, featuring content depicting children under 14 years old, many of whom were of very young age".
Prosecutors seek ancillary penalties and disqualification from parental responsibilities
The Investigation and Criminal Prosecution Department in Porto indicated that "the Public Prosecution Service requested the application of ancillary penalties of prohibition from exercising functions for crimes against sexual self-determination and sexual freedom, and prohibition of entrusting minors and disqualification from parental responsibilities".
The young man is currently held in preventive custody.
Source: Correio da Manhã