A photographer who set up a fake modelling website which he used to lure women in, before persuading them to engage in sexual activity, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison in the UK.

41 year-old Paul Brown, also known as Paul D Smart, from Okehampton in England was found guilty at Exeter Crown Court of 15 counts of rape and six counts of voyeurism.

The offences, which took place between 2014 and 2018, would often result in sexual activity between himself and the women.

He had previously pleaded guilty to one offence of voyeurism, but had denied 28 other charges put to him.

In a trial which lasted six weeks, the jury heard how Brown used the fake modelling website to 'honey trap' women whom he then referred back to himself as potential models to undertake pornographic casting shoots - which would often include himself as a participant.

He would require them to sign a non-disclosure agreement and kept records of his sexual activity, with many of them in a little black book and a photo album.

A notebook used by Paul Brown | Image: Devon and Cornwall Constabulary

Brown promised the women that the footage he took would be sent to the modelling agency so that they might then consider them for paid work.

However, this was not the case and police said the sexual acts were solely for his own gratification.

He was initially arrested in October 2017 following a complaint.

After an examination of documentation and digital media, more women were identified - resulting in him being charged with several counts of rape, sexual assault and voyeurism in January 2019.

The court heard how Brown had rented business premises at a unit in Okehampton, where he worked on the side as a photographer.

Inside Paul Brown's 'studio' | Image: Devon and Cornwall Constabulary

Brown's business - called Model South West - was set-up as an agency that promoted models across a range of genres.

The vast majority of the victim's in the case described applying to Model South West and being referred to Brown for a photoshoot.

However, the women never went on to receive any work or money.

Evidence showed the agency Brown had set-up was actually fictitious, and that any person named by Brown as being involved with that business did not exist.

Detective Inspector Naidoo Praveen Naidoo said: "Paul Brown was one of the most prolific sex offenders in the history of Devon and Cornwall Police.

"This was a particularly complex rape investigation involving 16 victims taking over two years to complete. This all started with a single report.

"He raped and sexually assaulted women over a period of five years.

"He created a web of deceit to coerce women, many of whom were vulnerable, into allowing him to sexually assault and rape them.

"It wasn't until one brave young woman came forward that police were able to unravel the web that he had created."

Main image: Paul Brown | Image: Devon and Cornwall Constabulary