Elha Mai Weston is to pay compensation after admitting to a “sustained campaign of online impersonation”. This campaign targeted Sasha-Jay Davies over a four-year period. Weston, who posed as Ms Davies, created fake profiles across several social media platforms and dating apps. The High Court in London heard details of the campaign. Weston used Ms Davies’ images to strike up romantic conversations. Through these fake profiles, Weston amassed more than 100,000 followers. A 19-year-old woman whose images were used to create fake Tinder, TikTok and Instagram profiles is to be paid compensation. These profiles led men to believe she was their girlfriend.
Sasha-Jay Davies from Aberdare had her identity stolen by Elha Mai Weston. Weston posed as the teenager to strike up romantic conversations on social media. Weston apologised and admitted the four-year campaign. She agreed to pay Ms Davies, a student, a reported £10,000 in compensation. The court was told that Weston engaged in a “sustained campaign of online impersonation”, which is known as catfishing. This left Ms Davies fearful to leave her home. She was being approached by men who thought they were in a relationship with her.
The Four-Year Impersonation Campaign
The High Court in London heard Weston used Ms Davies’ images to create and run fake accounts. These fake accounts were active between 2022 and 2026. Weston also used AI images based on Ms Davies’ likeness. She used the fake profiles to strike up real-life romantic relationships. Weston used Ms Davies’ images to create and run fake accounts between 2022 and 2026. On these accounts, Weston called herself “Sophie” and “Sophie Kadare.”
Fake accounts pretending to be Sasha-Jay gained a significant following. On TikTok, 81,000 followers were amassed. On Instagram, 22,000 followers were gained. Images were posted across a wide range of platforms. These included Tinder, Hinge, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and SoundCloud. The images were used to deceive thousands of people across social media and dating apps. Ms Davies said the first fake account emerged on TikTok in 2022 when she was just 16. She reported it, but said the problem quickly spread to other social media and dating apps. Even after Ms Davies made her real accounts private, Weston continued posting older photographs and AI-edited images, the court heard.
Impact on Victim Sasha-Jay Davies
The campaign left Ms Davies fearful to leave her home. She was being approached by men who thought they were in a relationship with her. Earlier this year, Ms Davies told BBC Wales that she used to go out a lot. Now, she hardly ever goes out. She stated this was because she was scared what man was going to approach her next. Ms Davies described the experience as terrifying. She felt terrified to be confronted over something she did not do. She also realised someone was using her face to manipulate others.
Ms Davies said she felt anxious whenever strangers appeared to recognise her in the supermarket. She recalled having boys approach her in person. These boys were harassing her. They accused her of texting them, leading them on, or making plans to meet up. These accusations were alongside conversations Ms Davies never had. The court heard one man approached Ms Davies. He believed he was in a genuine relationship with her. This was after exchanging months of messages with one of Weston’s fake accounts.
About 20 men and several women had contacted Ms Davies on social media. They believed they knew her. Ms Davies reported the initial fake account, but the problem spread. She said it was “really difficult” and she “wouldn’t wish it on [her] worst enemy.”
Weston’s Admission and Apology
Elha Mai Weston apologised and admitted the four-year campaign. The court was told Weston accepted her “conduct was wrongful.” She also acknowledged the “very significant distress and suffering” caused to Ms Davies. The court heard she “deeply regrets her actions and apologises to Miss Davies wholeheartedly and unreservedly for everything she has been put through.”
Weston agreed to pay Ms Davies a reported £10,000 in compensation. This compensation is for the online impersonation. A 19-year-old woman whose images were used to create fake profiles is to be paid this compensation. This follows the High Court hearing.