A MAN has been convicted of what is thought to be the first case of ‘revenge porn’ in Barnsley.

The 26-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress. He was handed a four month sentence suspended for 12 months, 180 hours of unpaid work and a restraining order.

Revenge porn is the term used to describe the unauthorised sharing of private or intimate videos and is a criminal offence under section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. The maximum sentence is two years in prison.

In this case, the man posted a video of his ex-girlfriend, who also cannot be named, on social media and also sent it to her mother.

Her mother said: “This has caused lots of upset, embarrassment and stress to both myself and my daughter, this will have an effect on her future in many ways.”

Alistair Parker, a solicitor with Brett Wilson LLP, said revenge porn was on the rise, and the impact on victims can be life-changing.

“In my view it is on the rise simply because it is being detected more,” he said. “More people are confident in reporting this and other sexual offences than they once were.

“In cases where there is deliberate and widespread publication of the private pictures/footage, I am of the view that the maximum sentence of two years imprisonment is clearly not long enough, particularly when one allows for half time release and home detention curfew.”

There is some debate about whether victims should be routinely afforded anonymity as they would if they had been the victim of a sexual offence such as rape.

Alistair said: “It is hard to think of a stronger case for anonymity as this must be deterring people from coming forward and reporting it to police.”

Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis agreed. “The circulation of intimate images and photos without an individual’s consent is a vile and humiliating crime,” he said.

“It is right that revenge porn is now a criminal offence. It is important though, that the government address concerns surrounding the effectiveness of the current legislation outlawing revenge porn. With one in three allegations being withdrawn, the government must make this awful act a dedicated sexual offence to ensure victims are offered lifelong anonymity.”