A 21-year-old man has become the first person in Britain to be jailed for 'revenge porn' after he posted a naked picture of his ex-girlfriend on WhatsApp.
Luke
King uploaded the image, along with 'abusive and offensive remarks', to
the online messaging service in August after the victim ended their
three-year relationship.
The
woman, who has not been named for legal reasons, first alerted police
after he threatened to post the explicit photographs online, the court
heard. She said that she has been left 'disgusted' and 'really upset'
after by his actions.
Jailed: Luke King was sent a number of
intimate photographs by the victim during an on-off relationship that
lasted three years. He uploaded one of them to online messaging service
WhatsApp in August
King,
from Nottingham, pleaded guilty to posting an explicit image on the
internet in a course of conduct which amounted to harassment of the
woman.
He
was jailed for 12 weeks at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court and
given a restraining order which bans him from contacting the woman for
two years - including over the internet.
The sentence comes weeks after the Government published tough new guidelines on 'revenge porn'.
District
Judge Andrew Davison told King that he should be 'thoroughly ashamed'
of himself for what he called a 'despicable and significant breach of
trust'.
He said: 'For some reason she sent them to you in complete confidence. Clearly it was an unwise thing for the complainant to do.
'Nevertheless
it doesn't give you any excuse whatsoever to post this type of intimate
photograph together with the abusive and offensive remarks you posted.'
Tough stance: The sentencing comes just weeks after the Government promised to clamp down on 'revenge porn'. Above, Luke King
The court heard the victim, who lives in Derby, told police: 'It has disgusted me and really upset me.'
Prosecutor
Alison Wright added: 'She called Derbyshire police to report that he
had threatened to put explicit photographs of her on the internet.
'She accepted she sent them initially to him but they were for his eyes only, so to speak.'
The
court heard that King had been abusive to the woman earlier in the
relationship and she had reported him to Nottinghamshire Police.
James Close, defending, said: 'He accepts it was a totally unacceptable thing to do. In his words "something exploded" in him.
'He
said it was a stupid, angry reaction. He told the probation service he
was not sexually motivated and it was not through jealousy.
'It has had an impact on the young lady and I accept that.'
Peter
Shergill, district crown prosecutor at the CPS East Midlands, said:
'This kind of malicious use of intimate material online is a vindictive
crime that leaves victims humiliated and devastated.
'Prosecutors
are now following guidance issued in October this year that clarifies
how we can use existing legislation to prosecute perpetrators of these
intrusive offences.
'In
this instance, because Luke King had threatened his victim and posted
multiple pictures of her on social media, a charge of harassment was
brought.
'This
is the first case of its kind in Derbyshire since the new guidelines
came into effect and is a sharp reminder that these offences will be
taken seriously and we will use a range of legislation to secure justice
for its victims.
The jail sentence comes just weeks after Justice Secretary Chris Grayling vowed to clamp down on 'revenge porn'.
He announced a new criminal offence of posting the explicit images online with carry a maximum jail term of two years.
The Crown Prosecution Service branded the offence a 'nasty and invasive crime' and the plan has been welcomed by campaigners.
According
to the Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, the
distribution of 'revenge porn' will be made a specific criminal offence
in an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.
Mr
Grayling said: 'The fact that there are individuals who are cruelly
distributing intimate pictures of their former partners without their
consent is almost beyond belief.
'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.
'That is why we will change the law and make it absolutely clear to those who act in this way that they could face prison.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2834509/Thug-person-Britain-jailed-revenge-porn-posting-intimate-picture-ex-girlfriend-WhatsApp.html#ixzz3J3F3Pihh
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