STORY
Tyler Webb, 23, from Loughborough, has been sentenced to nine years and four months in custody under a hospital order after admitting to encouraging a woman he met online to seriously self-harm and attempt suicide. Webb pleaded guilty to two counts, one of encouraging suicide and another of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm, making him the first individual convicted under Section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023.
The offences occurred between June and July 2024, when Webb contacted the 21‑year‑old woman through a suicide support forum. Over six weeks, he manipulated and coerced her via messages and video calls, repeatedly urging her to harm herself and kill herself while he watched. On at least one occasion, the victim lost consciousness and required medical attention. The woman later reported the abuse to Leicestershire Police. Detective Constable Lauren Hampton described Webb’s actions as “calculated and disturbing” noting he “quickly gained her trust” before unleashing a series of “vile requests” that could have led to her death.
In victim impact statements, the woman labelled Webb’s actions as “attempted murder through psychological means,” calling the abuse “calculated psychological violence.” She explained that she suffers “lasting impact,” with scars that persist on her arm and a life forever changed despite surviving her ordeal.
Webb was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court to a hybrid order under Section 45A of the Mental Health Act: nine years and four months in prison, followed by a hospital order. The conviction marks a significant milestone in the application of the Online Safety Act, which seeks to criminalise the encouragement of serious self-harm even if it does not result in death.
DC Hampton emphasised the importance of the conviction, praising the victim’s courage in coming forward. She warned that this case serves as “a warning” to others, and that the police will rigorously apply the new law to protect vulnerable individuals from similar abuse. This case sets a clear precedent under the new legislation and establishes a moral benchmark, signalling that society will hold individuals accountable for manipulating others into self-harm under any pretext.