A woman posed as a 16-year-old boy and lured dozens of minors online

21-year-old Gama Watts impersonated a 16-year-old boy to seduce minors online - and pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of 4 minors, one of 13. Watts was sentenced to 8 years in prison, but investigators believe her media exposure could increase the number of her victims in dozens

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21-year-old London resident Gemma Watts impersonated a 16-year-old boy to seduce minors online. Her fictional character was so compelling that she even spent a lot of time with some of her victims' parents. Last week, Watts was sentenced to eight years in prison for committing sex offenses in 4 minors, one of 13, but police suspect Watts has had relationships with between 20 and 50 minors and hopes that disclosing the case will encourage other victims to be exposed.

Watts, who lives with her mother, impersonated a boy named Jake Wotton on social networks Snapchat and Instagram, where she tracked down and made fun of potential victims and took advantage of her innocence. In court, Watts victims allegedly suffered from bullying or low self-confidence and she recognized their weakness and exploited it for her purposes. After the initial contact with the girls was created, Watts used to compliment them on their appearance, began sending them intimate pictures and calling them affectionate nicknames, the Guardian reported. At a more advanced stage, she began to meet with the girls, when she met wearing wide sweatpants and a hoodie. She hid her long hair under a baseball cap and her underwear tucked in stockings to produce a protrusion of a male genitalia.

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21-year-old Gemma Watts impersonated a 16-year-old to seduce minors online (official website, Metropolitan Police)

21-year-old Gemma Watts impersonated a 16-year-old to seduce minors online (Photo: Metropolitan Police, official website)

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The male character Watts impersonated was so compelling that she even spent a lot of time with some of her victims' parents, with no suspicion that the cute 16-year-old was actually a 21-year-old. When one of the 14-year-olds noticed Watts's breasts, she claimed That it was a "male breast" that grew when she was overweight. When that girl found pictures of Watts dressed as a woman, Watts convinced her that she was experimenting with wearing women's clothing.

In court, Watts allegedly became more and more violent towards one of the 14-year-old girls, tried to push her into the road and even threatened her with a knife. When Watts was arrested, she told police she considered her sexual fouls a game and claimed that "I was just trying to encourage them." In November 2019 Watts pleaded guilty to 7 sex offenses involving 4 girls - 13 from Plymouth, two 14 from Surrey and Hampshire and another 16 from the Midlands west.

However, researchers believe Watts had many more victims, who may only now realize that they have fallen victim to impersonation. Police hope the publications will go to victims to be exposed. Metropolitan Police Officer Philippa Kenwright added: "I think there were other victims who were in a relationship with Watts. Only now, following the publications, will they realize it was actually a woman. I estimate that she may have between 20 and 50 victims."

Gemma Watts profiles as Jake Watton (screenshot)

21-year-old Gemma Watts profiles posing online for a 16-year-old to seduce minors (Photo: Screenshot)

"My heart exploded"

A Hampshire doctor was the first to raise concerns before police in March 2018 after one of his minor patients revealed to him that he had a relationship with a teenager older than her. In July of that year, Watts admitted to police that she impersonated Jake and had a sexual relationship with three minors. She was released under warning and arrested again in October 2018 by the British Transport Police who found her on the train with a fourth victim. Officers initially thought Watts was a 16-year-old boy and took her to her home in London, but then discovered her true identity.

One of the victims, a 14-year-old girl, admitted she fell in love with "Jake" and thought she could tell him everything. In a court hearing, she said: "My heart exploded. My world stopped, I stopped breathing. I loved it so much. It's still in my head." She added: "What she did to me is just disgusting, it's awful." Another 14-year-old girl told the court about the excitement she had in her first kiss with Jake, "It was my first kiss ever with a child. I was in love," she shared.

Barnaby Shaw, a prosecutor at Watts trial, said the defendant repeatedly clashed with one of the victims as she stayed to sleep with her during sessions lasting a three-month period. He said that on one occasion, the victims "felt Watts' genitalia with her hand, but these were actually rolled stockings." In court, it was alleged that after revealing the truth, two of her victims hurt themselves and tried to end their lives. Before the sentencing was announced, Judge Susan Evans contacted Watts, saying: "Being young, as you probably know, made them more innocent and allowed you to go far with your fraud."

Watts was charged with 7 sexual offenses: one offense of sexual assault involving penetration, three counts of sexual assault, and three offenses of encounters with minors for the purpose of a sexual relationship. She will spend the next 8 years behind bars, but police believe uncovering more victims will help keep her in jail for a longer period.

Watch the BBC Network's report on the affair