Teenage YouTube star used his internet fame to groom and sexually abuse young boys and girls

TEENAGE internet star Tom Laywood “used his online influence” to groom underage boys and girls, inviting them to his home and sexually touching them.

The 18-year-old from Derbyshire had a YouTube channel with more than 40,000 subscribers before he was arrested for luring online fans to his home in Swanwick, a court heard.

Police said if his victims refused, the teen – who still has a Twitter fan page dedicated to him – would threaten to “embarrass them” with his online presence.

Derbyshire police launched an investigation after victims came forward in early 2015.

Laywood admitted three counts of inciting underage boys to engage in sexual activity to Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

He also admitted two similar counts involving underage girls as well as forcing a minor to watch a sex act.

All of the offences took place between August 2014 and April 2015, but Laywood has avoided prison time for his crimes.

The social media manipulator was slapped with a 12-year community order and five-year sexual harm prevention order, meaning he cannot work with or contact anyone under the age of 16.

Judge Michael Stokes told him: “As I am sure you appreciate the offences to which you pleaded guilty to are very serious.

“It is quite clear that your problem is long standing and I cannot remember a case where the defendant has been the subject of so much analysis than you have been.

“It is perfectly clear from all of the reports that your behaviour is rooted in the conditions which you suffer and which have had a debilitating effect on your ability to judge situations.

“You are a very intelligent young man and you have huge ability, but without going into all of the details your ability to judge situations like other young men is affected by your conditions.

“I know you had a very nasty time when you were in Nottingham Prison and you do not want to go back there.

“Your parents have been very loyal and they remained loyal and supportive to you throughout this lengthy process.”

Laywood’s internet fame came from uploading videos of himself talking about relationships and love.

His channel “Tomisnotawesome” accumulated almost 957,000 view by late 2014.

His popular uploads include ‘Cute and Attractive Things Girls Do” and “Things That Annoy and Frustrate Me About Girls”.

In one video titled “To make you happy” Laywood records himself telling an imaginary lover “no one else in the world has ever touched me, or could ever touch me as much as you have”.

Online viewers took to the comment section to mock him and highlight his arrest.

One user wrote: “I used to love him so much, ew oh my f***, he’s revolting.”

Another commented: “Is that what you say to children?”

Before his Twitter page was shut down, Laywood posted: “I do things which I later regret, but who doesn’t?”

DC Thor Long, who led the investigation, said: “This was a long and complex investigation involving a large number of victims, all of whom shared a similar story about Tom Laywood.

“He would make unwanted and uninvited sexual advances against boys and girls, and whenever those advances were rebuffed, he would threaten to use his growing online influence to embarrass the victims.

“The experiences were extremely distressing for the victims in this case and I would like to commend them for their bravery in coming forward to the police and reporting Laywood’s actions.

“I am pleased that he pleaded guilty and that he has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, meaning the contact he can make with people is closely monitored.

“Moreover, this case sends a clear message to the young people of Derbyshire that they can be confident complaints are taken seriously, that they will be fully supported, and that we will strive to bring offenders such as Tom Laywood to justice.”

Two years ago, Laywood started his own online petition on Change.org website called “Let Tom Laywood back in Swanwick Hall Sixth Form” which attracted 107 supporters at the time.

On it he wrote: “I was kicked out/let go/dismissed from school for no reason.

“I cannot go into detail about why this was but I do not give up on my dreams.

“I met my friends in that school and I am not prepared to start again, they will carry on without me and I refuse to give up having my education and my social life taken away.

“I hope you see that despite being treated like I was, I want to remain there for good reasons.”

The petition has since been closed down and Laywood is set to undergo mental health treatment under a court requirement.

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