A committal hearing began at Enniskillen Magistrates Court for Scott Tootill, 37, from Gledarragh Park in Ederney, Fermanagh. Initial charges against him totalled 12 counts from August 2021 to November 2022. These included inciting prostitution, fraud by posing as a female offering sexual services, blackmail, and concealing criminal property.

Charges against Tootill now total 174. They consist of 138 counts of fraud by false representation. Most involve him posing as a female offering sexual services for advance payment. There are 106 male victims for these fraud counts. In nine cases, he allegedly blackmailed victims by threatening to disclose their attempts to pay for sexual services.

Tootill faces 21 counts related to female victims. These include attempting to control prostitution and causing or inciting prostitution. He allegedly posed as a female sex worker providing advice and encouragement to female escorts for financial gain. Additional charges against him cover two counts of paying for sexual services, one count of harassment, failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements, and acquiring and concealing criminal property.

He allegedly posed as a female encouraging a woman to record sexual images for payment. In another instance, he posed as a photographer offering a female modelling work. Offences occurred across platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Telegram.

Lauren O’Connor, 28, from Alexander Rise in Lisnaskea, faces nine counts of aiding and abetting fraud. She allegedly knew Tootill posed as a female offering sexual services for advance payment. She also faces one count each of arranging to acquire criminal property and supplying articles for fraud, namely SIM cards. Her alleged involvement spans October 6, 2021, to July 2, 2022.

Beth Elliott, 30, from Annadale Flats in Belfast, faces one count of arranging to facilitate control of criminal property for Tootill. This spans September 3, 2020, to November 9, 2022.

Police started an investigation in November 2022 after finding Tootill with an unapproved mobile phone and five SIM cards. Analysis of over 700,000 pieces of data from his phone and bank account showed about £171,000 entering and leaving his account from fraud and blackmail. He used two co-accused to collect money, which was then transferred to him.

Tootill has remained in custody since bail was refused. District Judge Alana McSorley granted defence barristers time to review case papers. The matter is listed for mention on March 23.