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First revenge porn jail sentence handed out (17 November 2014)

Date: 17/11/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, First revenge porn jail sentence handed out

A man who posted intimate images of his former girlfriend online as an act of revenge porn has been sentenced to 12 weeks in jail.

Liam King, 21, had a three-year relationship with his girlfriend, which the court heard was an “on-off” affair. However, during the relationship, his girlfriend texted him intimate photos of herself.

In August 2014, King replaced his profile image on the messaging service WhatsApp with an explicit image of his former girlfriend after their relationship broke down.

His victim – who lives in Derby – alerted police over use of the image online, having already spoken to them over King’s abusive behaviour towards her.

However, King ignored two police warnings about using explicit images of his ex-girlfriend online and was eventually prosecuted under the protection from Harassment Act 1997.

At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court, King pleaded guilty to two charges involving harassment and failing to answer police bail.

The prosecution told the court:

“She called police to report that he had threatened to put out explicit photographs of her on the Internet.

“She accepted she sent them initially to him – but they were for his eyes only.”

The court was told that King had accepted that his behaviour was “unacceptable”.

District Judge Andrew Davidson said that King’s actions were “pernicious” and designed to cause maximum humiliation on the unnamed victim, whose identity was protected by the court.

He told King:

“You should be thoroughly ashamed of this offence. I regard this as despicable an a significant breach of trust.”

The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill is currently passing through Parliament and Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has introduced an amendment to it which would make revenge porn a criminal offence.

Although the Bill has not completed its passage through Parliament, East Midlands District Prosecutor Peter Shergill said that prosecutors are now following guidance which enable prosecutions for revenge porn to be brought under existing legislation such as the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Mr Grayling recently said:

“We want those who fall victim to this type of disgusting behaviour to know that we are on their side – and will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”

It is reported that children as young as 11 are falling victim to revenge porn online, as children give in to peer pressure and post explicit images of themselves for their friends to see.

Some youngsters are also thought to be copying celebrities who post explicit images of themselves online, raising further concern that children who do so may risk being targeted by paedophiles through social media.

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers are available 24/7, 365 days a year to advise at any stage of a charge involving prosecution under the Protection from Harassment Act, including charges for revenge porn, antisocial behaviour or public order offences.

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For expert legal advice on criminal charges, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

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