Jake Thomas Vandermeel: Coffs Harbour man arrested for alleged grooming and threatening sadistic sextortion

Heavily armed police in New South Wales have swooped on the home of a Coffs Harbour man and charged him with allegedly threatening a teenager with ‘sadistic sextortion’ offences.

The NSW police sex crimes squad yesterday arrested Jake Thomas Vandermeel and raided his Safety Beach home following its investigation into the alleged sextortion of a 15-year-old girl.

In August 2024, detectives attached to the state crime command’s sex crimes squad commenced an investigation following a referral from the Queensland police service.

It is alleged the man had been grooming the girl he had met online and was threatening to send videos of herself carrying out various compromising acts such as self-harming and performing sexual acts.

At about 7.35am on Wednesday, strike force detectives with assistance from the raptor squad, attended an address in Safety Beach where they arrested a 28-year-old man.

During a search of the property, police located and seized various electronic devices which will undergo further forensic examination.

The man was taken to Coffs Harbour police station, where he was charged with using a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child, to do/plan harm toa person under 16 years, to groom under 16 years for sex, to threaten to kill, to threaten to serious harm, to send indecent material toa person under 16 years, and to cause child sexual activity.

He was refused bail and appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday.

Commander of the state crime command’s sex crimes squad, Det-Supt Jayne Doherty, said police are seeing a rise in sadistic sextortion cases.

“Sadistic sextortion is unlike typical cases of sextortion because the offender is not doing it for financial gain, rather victims are being coerced into producing extreme sexual and violent content,” Det-Supt Doherty said.

“We want children to know there is always someone who will listen, and there are things we can do to get you out of any situation, no matter how frightening it is or what the offender is telling you.

“I hope this incident also acts as an alert to parents who may be aware that their children engaging in self-harm that there may be deeper reasons for this that need to be explored with them in a supportive manner.”

Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.

Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.