A woman from Chester has pleaded guilty to posting an intimate photo of her friend online following a dispute on social media.
Jessica Bailey, 22, shared the image of her friend changing in her bathroom after accusing the victim of trolling her on Snapchat. When confronted about her actions, Bailey callously replied, “Because I can.”
Bailey later attempted to justify her behaviour, but after being informed of the legal consequences, she changed her story. She admitted to two charges of sharing a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state with the intent to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation.
The court heard that the victim had not consented to the photo being taken or shared. The image, which was snapped in July of the previous year, caused psychological distress to the victim. Bailey’s actions were described as an emotional response to a perceived negative portrayal of her online.
Bailey, who had been drinking at the time, claimed the situation was a “tit for tat” reaction to the online dispute. She expressed remorse for her actions and acknowledged the harm caused.
Chester Magistrates’ Court sentenced Bailey to an 18-month community order. As part of her sentence, she will wear a sobriety tag for 120 days to monitor her alcohol consumption, complete 35 days of rehabilitation activity, and pay £199 in costs and a victim surcharge.
In delivering the sentence, JP Frances Miller warned Bailey, “Make sure you do everything the probation ask of you, otherwise they may well bring you back here.”
Source: Linda Ikeji Blog