Mum: ‘Satanic child abusers caused my daughter to despair of life’

A mother of a 14-year-old girl has warned how abuse by an online satanic gang caused her daughter to stop eating and sleeping.

Mum ‘Christina’, not her real name, told the BBC that her daughter had been manipulated by a member of the Satanist group 764, who made her believe she was worthless.

The group, which was formed in America by a 15-year-old boy, is part of an international network that coerces vulnerable girls with mental health issues into committing self-harm, engaging in satanic rituals, and carrying out sexual acts.

Self-harm

Christina, who wants other parents to be aware of the online danger, believes her daughter — who is now rebuilding her life — was first targeted following a chat room discussion about self-harm.

She recounted: “I kept going ‘just block them, stop talking to them’, but I was not seeing the level of influence that was already there, and the level of fear. They absolutely just beat her down to make her feel she is absolutely nothing without them or with them.”

“My daughter stopped sleeping. She stopped eating. As a mum I felt alone. I was scared, I was helpless”.

Christina explained: “I watched my mother get diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and fight for her life and it was not as hard to watch as it was to watch my daughter deteriorate. She deteriorated faster and worse than watching somebody essentially dying of cancer.”

‘Incredibly vulnerable’

The National Crime Agency (NCA) classes such groups as one of “the most severe and serious online threats”.

Rob Richardson, the NCA’s deputy threat lead for online child sexual abuse, said young girls are “incredibly vulnerable” but crimes are under-reported.

In January, Cameron Finnigan from West Sussex was jailed for six years for his involvement with 764. At least four British teenagers have been arrested in connection with the international group.

Hallowe’en

Angus Saul, The Christian Institute’s Head of Communications, said: “At Hallowe’en, countless children dress up as witches, devils, and various other evil creatures, and it has become more culturally accepted as society becomes more secular.

“But what many parents don’t realise is that for some children and young people, satanism and the occult are not a fictitious, once-a-year costume party, but daily practices that they keep well hidden.

“There are groups online promoting this demonic culture, and impressionable young people seeking community can easily be swept up in it. These groups are dangerous, and parents should do their utmost to prevent children stumbling across such content, as well as educating them of the dangers of the internet.”