UK’s Online Safety Act leads to first conviction as man jailed for encouraging suicide

A 23-year-old man from Loughborough, England, has become the first person convicted under the UK’s Online Safety Act after manipulating a woman into attempting suicide. The landmark case marks a significant milestone in the UK government’s efforts to tackle online harms through stronger legislation.

Tyler Webb was sentenced to more than nine years in prison at Leicester Crown Court after pleading guilty to encouraging serious self-harm and suicide. The Online Safety Act, which came into effect in 2023, introduced new offenses targeting online abuse and exploitation, including encouraging self-harm.

According to prosecutors, Webb met the victim in an online mental health forum last year and groomed her over several weeks. He persuaded her to harm herself and, during a video call, watched as she attempted suicide. When the attempt failed, he told her to try again after regaining consciousness. The woman, who sustained serious injuries and required hospital treatment, later reported Webb to the police.

“This conviction shows that we have an effective new tool to use against people who are determined to cause this sort of harm online,” a prosecutor told Sky News.

During sentencing, the judge described Webb as “sexually motivated” and noted he took gratification in the harm he inflicted, even threatening to find another victim if his demands weren’t met. Webb will remain in a secure mental health facility until deemed fit for release, after which he will serve the rest of his sentence in prison.

The Online Safety Act was designed to hold individuals and platforms accountable for harmful online behavior, with this case demonstrating its effectiveness for the first time.