POLICE have praised the bravery of a 14-year-old girl who was groomed and abused by 21-year-old Cruz Buckley.

Buckley, of Bridport, began communicating with the teen on Snapchat in November 2024, claiming to be a 17-year-old boy called Joshua.

‘Joshua’ – later identified as Buckley – sent an image of a young male person and claimed it was him and he formed an online relationship with the victim.

Buckley also sent indecent videos of himself to the victim and threatened her into performing indecent acts on video calls, taking screenshots without the victim’s consent and later shared them to her family.

The matter was reported to police and the account used by Buckley was traced to an address in Bridport.

He was arrested in March 2025 and his mobile phone was seized, which was examined and found to contain indecent images and videos of the victim.

Buckley pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, sharing a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state intending to cause alarm, distress or humiliation, making indecent images of a child, blackmail and causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

He was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on July 3, and jailed for three years and three months. He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 14 years.

Cruz Buckley, of Bridport, has been jailed for three years and three months. Picture: Dorset Police

After the sentencing, Detective Inspector Andy Brix, of the Paedophile Online Investigation Team, said: “Buckley formed a relationship with someone he knew was underage and exploited her to obtain indecent images and videos.

“This type of behaviour is absolutely appalling and has had a significant impact on the victim.

“She has shown immense bravery and courage in coming forward and reporting what happened and now Buckley is behind bars unable to prey upon other vulnerable victims.

“I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents of the dangers of online child abuse – speak to your children and make sure they know they can come to you for advice.”

For more information on how to keep children safe online, visit the Online child abuse section of the Dorset Police website.

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