A MAN from Chafford Hundred will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today, Wednesday 13 May, after being charged with a number of offences related to hacking and blackmail.

Akash Sondhi, 26, of Hedingham Road, has been charged with 47 offences in total, including 24 counts of unauthorised computer access with intent to commit other offences, 21 counts of blackmail and 2 counts of voyeurism.

The alleged offences, which primarily saw young girls blackmailed for intimate images over Snapchat, are believed to have taken place between 2015 and 2020.

Anyone with information about similar offences is asked to call Essex Police's Cyber Crime Unit on 101. You can also report any instances of fraud to Action Fraud.