British 'revenge porn' female convict spared jail

London, Sept 1: A woman who put explicit images of her girlfriend on Facebook to "hurt and humiliate" her has become the first female defendant convicted for revenge porn in Britain.

Paige Mitchell, 24, escaped jail but received a six-week suspended sentence after she admitted uploading four sexually explicit images of her girlfriend following an argument, The Independent reported on Tuesday.

Stevenage Magistrates' Court heard that the images were only visible on Facebook for half hour before Mitchell took them down after her mother told her it was against the law.

In a witness statement, the victim said the incident had made her feel "embarrassed to walk down the street". She said: "People who I didn't want to see my body have seen me (naked). I don't want to feel like that."

Mitchell, from Shephall Way in Stevenage, pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress as well as one count of assault by beating.

Joanna Coleman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "These vengeful crimes are predominantly thought of as being carried out by men.

"This sentencing will highlight that anyone can be guilty of this offence and regardless of the defendant's gender, once reported, it will be taken seriously."

IANS