Youth Justice in the Digital Age: Image Offences and Online Sexual Offending
Date: 19th May 2026 | Time: 1pm-2pm
Cost: £15 | Free for YJLC Members
The internet, AI and social media are transforming every aspect of modern life, bringing new challenges for children and the professionals who work with them. Children and young people are particularly vulnerable to the harmful aspects of online spaces while they are still developing healthy boundaries around relationships, consent and sexual behaviour.
These changing dynamics are increasingly reflected in youth offending. In 2024–25, image offences accounted for 54% of all sexual offences committed by children, highlighting the growing prevalence and complexity of online sexual offending within the youth justice system.
This webinar will highlight the key offences and themes present in these cases and provide practical advice to youth justice practitioners on how they can approach these issues.
The session will be particularly relevant for youth justice practitioners, solicitors, barristers, offering insight into an area of law that is evolving rapidly alongside technology.
At the webinar, we will also launch our new legal guide, Image Offences and Online Sexual Offending, which brings together the relevant law, guidance and practical considerations into a comprehensive resource for professionals dealing with these complex and sensitive cases.
Our expert speakers are:
- Cormac Nolan, NSPCC Cormac is a Service Head at Childline, with responsibility for several Childline bases and the delivery of the live service provided to children and young people. In addition to overseeing frontline support services, he also leads on the Childline website and its digital content, helping to ensure children can access trusted advice, information and support online.
- Áine Kervick, Senior Associate, Kingsley Napley Áine is a Senior Associate in the criminal team at Kingsley Napley with a wide range of criminal litigation experience. She has extensive experience representing children and young people, particularly in relation to online and sexual offences arising out of “sexting” behaviour. She is committed to ensuring the relevant authorities recognise and respect the special rights afforded to children who find themselves within the criminal justice system. Áine is co- author of our latest legal guide Image Offences and Online Sexual Offending and the guide on Children Facing Allegations of Sexual Offending.
- Robbie Eyles, Youth Justice Solicitor at Just for Kids Law and Youth Justice Legal Centre Robbie is a specialist youth justice solicitor. He primarily works on YJLC's advice line, providing free, specialist legal advice and support to children, carers, and practitioners on issues relating to youth justice law and practice. Robbie also regularly trains youth justice services, solicitors, barristers and other professionals on youth justice law, has written YJLC's legal guides and contributed to the upcoming edition of the book Youth Justice Law and Practice. Robbie is second co- author of our latest legal guide Image Offences and Online Sexual Offending.
