Eliza Carthy experienced a sense of unease as her phone continued to receive notifications throughout the night.

As a prominent figure in the music industry, rest was essential for her demanding schedule, which included touring and caring for her 84-year-old father, Martin Carthy, a celebrated folk singer and nominee for the 2025 Mercury Prize.

The influx of messages persisted, frequently extending into the early morning hours.

A conversation that had begun as a cordial exchange between performers on Facebook had taken a dark turn in a remarkably short period.

Readers are advised that this account includes descriptions of sexual harassment that may be disturbing to some individuals.

According to the woman, she received a large volume of explicit content from the individual, including numerous photos and videos of a sexual nature.

The messages also included a mix of deleted and undeleted content, with some videos showcasing the person's professional life, such as performances at prominent venues like the Albert Hall.

The sender of these messages has been identified as Ben Gunnery, a 46-year-old violinist from London's Vauxhall area, with a notable career spanning global performances.

On Monday, Gunnery received a 12-month suspended sentence, valid for two years, after pleading guilty to sending explicit images to two women, including the singer, with the intent to cause distress or humiliation.

Following an investigation by the BBC, it has been revealed that the extent of Gunnery's actions is more widespread, with six additional women coming forward to report that they too were targeted by him.

Carthy, a 50-year-old music industry professional, recalled being added as a friend on Facebook by a stranger named Gunnery in June 2024.

Initially, Gunnery reached out to Carthy with praise for her musical abilities, and the two engaged in a brief exchange of messages, but the conversation took a disturbing turn when he started sending her explicit content, including images and videos.

According to Carthy, the explicit material included numerous instances of Gunnery engaging in masturbation, with the content numbering in the hundreds.

The following day, Gunnery would delete the offending messages and attempt to downplay his previous actions, sending notes that included phrases such as "I hope you're still charmed by silly old me."

In response, Carthy would inform Gunnery that his behavior was excessive and that she needed him to respect her boundaries, citing her caregiving responsibilities as a reason to establish limits.

As a single parent and caregiver for her father, she felt compelled to keep her phone on at all times.

Following her request to cease contact, Carthy, a resident of North Yorkshire, was inundated with messages from him.

She described the intense anxiety his behavior caused, stating that it would linger with her even in her own bed at night.

The constant stream of notifications was likened to a persistent disturbance, making it impossible to rest or disregard the messages.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Gunnery had sent her explicit videos featuring other women, who seemed to be unaware they were being recorded.

An investigation has found that Gunnery had a history of targeting women that spans over 10 years.

A woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported Gunnery to the authorities in 2017 after receiving unsolicited explicit images from him.

Although she chose not to pursue legal action, the experience had a significant impact on her career as a singer, as she faced backlash from others for speaking out against him.

As a result, she claimed that her professional opportunities dwindled, stating, "I was no longer being hired by bands, yet they continued to work with Ben."

Between 2017 and 2018, Gunnery participated in and instructed at a festival held in France.

According to a festival organiser, a private student reported receiving explicit messages from an individual, which was then shared with the BBC.

The organiser stated that the student was encouraged to report the incident to the French authorities, and as a result, the individual was barred from attending the festival.

In response to concerns about inappropriate behaviour, the festival organisers established a dedicated safeguarding team to handle any future incidents.

A female musician alleged that she received over 50 explicit messages from the individual between August 2021 and January 2023, which were subsequently deleted.

A man claimed to have confronted the individual about his behaviour nearly a decade ago, in an incident that reportedly occurred around 2013, although the exact date was not specified, it was described as being almost 10 years ago.

The individual in question has a history of deception, having misled people across the board, according to the statement.

Gunnery's first conviction occurred in 2023, resulting in a community rehabilitation order for transmitting indecent images to a female colleague.

In July of the previous year, Gunnery was convicted for a second time, this time for deliberately sending images with the intention of causing alarm, distress, and humiliation.

The arrest and subsequent charges in this instance were prompted by the BBC, who informed West Mercia Police that musician Anna Downes had made over 20 attempts to report the incident over a six-month period.

Anna Downes, a resident of Worcestershire who has chosen to waive her anonymity, emphasizes the need for such crimes to be treated with greater seriousness.

The speaker emphasized that such behavior is not typical of most men and should be addressed, as she does not want her sons to perceive it as acceptable.

Acknowledging the tendency to feel embarrassed and stay silent, she expressed her resolve from the outset to speak out instead of keeping it private.

Gunnery received a two-year community rehabilitation order, with the judge issuing a warning that any recurrence would result in imprisonment.

Despite this, Gunnery struggled to control his actions.

In November 2025, Gunnery sent explicit content, including a photo and two videos, to a female musician, referred to as Kate.

The incident left her feeling isolated and disturbed, with the unexpected nature of the encounter making it all the more unsettling, given that she had no prior connection to the individual involved.

Following the publication of the BBC's report on Downes's case, Kate reached out to the authorities, while Carthy also came forward after reading the story, prompting them to take action against him.

On Monday, Downes received a 12-month suspended sentence, to be served over a two-year period, after pleading guilty to sending the images in question.

Should the terms of the sentence be breached, Downes will be required to serve half of the 12-month term in prison, with the remaining period to be spent on licence.

As part of the sentencing, Downes was ordered to remain on the sex offenders' register for an additional 10 years and was also subjected to a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

As part of his sentence, he was required to undergo rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction, which he acknowledged had contributed to his behavior.

Kate reported that she had received messages from other women who claimed to have received inappropriate images from Gunnery.

According to Kate, the problem extended beyond the music industry, with women from various walks of life, including those working in the service industry and mothers, also being targeted.

Some individuals had been aware of Gunnery's offenses for a decade or more, highlighting a prolonged period of knowledge about his actions.

Despite his initial conviction, Gunnery was able to continue performing and teaching at a London-based music charity, working with both adults and children, for a period of two years.

In a notable engagement, Gunnery was booked to perform with Winston Churchill's violin at the RAF Club in London in November 2025, despite being on bail and awaiting sentencing.

The RAF Club's management has since stated that they were unaware of Gunnery's convictions and offenses prior to the evening of the event, and have expressed regret over their decision to hire him, offering apologies to those affected.

As a result, the club is undertaking an urgent review of its safeguarding policies and procedures.

The BBC has also reached out to two Irish music bands that had previously worked with Gunnery, and both have confirmed that they will no longer be collaborating with him.

One of the bands expressed their dismay, stating that they have no tolerance for behavior that disrespects or harms women, and that there is no room for such actions within their organization or community.

As of January 2024, the Online Safety Act has made cyberflashing a distinct offense, defined as the act of sending unwarranted explicit images to individuals through online platforms.

Prior to this legislation, law enforcement and prosecutors had to rely on outdated laws, such as those pertaining to the transmission of indecent or offensive messages, which predated the rise of social media.

Under the new regulations, social media companies and dating app operators are now required to implement measures to prevent the sending of unsolicited nude images to their users.

A recent study conducted by Prof Clare McGlynn of Durham University and Prof Fiona Vera-Gray of London Metropolitan University reveals that women are nearly three times more likely to be victims of cyberflashing than their male counterparts.

The research indicates that 23% of women have experienced cyberflashing at some point in their lives, whereas only 8% of men have reported similar incidents.

According to Carthy, all individuals are entitled to a sense of security and should have control over their emotional and physical well-being.

Kate, still grappling with the aftermath of her experience, is advocating for increased awareness about the issue of cyberflashing.

Kate noted that many people are unfamiliar with the concept of cyberflashing, and it was only through her own research that she discovered it had a specific term, was considered a crime, and could lead to prosecution.

Carthy emphasized that despite being committed through a digital device, such actions constitute a serious breach of privacy and trust, and are entirely unacceptable.