Ayrshire Post

Female’s revenge porn campaign

Teenager demanded cash over sex text message

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A teenage girl shared a revenge porn snap online after her male victim failed to pay her rent money.

Ashleigh Wilson, 18, sent the intimate photo via social media to her victim’s parents, partner, employer and other witnesses after he failed to cough up £ 3000.

Wilson came close to a jail sentence when she appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court last week for sentencing.

The teen admitted attempting to extort her victim for a quantity of cash by threatenin­g that unless the money was handed over, she would disclose a sexual image to numerous people.

The cruel teenager eventually followed through with her threats as she sent the explicit photograph of the Ayr man to others, which showed the victim in an intimate situation, without his consent.

Depute fiscal Laurin Campbell said the pair were messaging when their conversati­on turned sexual “with both sharing sexual fantasies with each other”.

Ms Campbell said: “A sexually explicit image of the complainer was exchanged.

“The accused began asking the complainer for some money as she was behind on her rent and was going to be evicted.

The court heard Wilson, of Mekins Avenue in Dumbarton, then demanded money from her victim or she would expose the image she had of him.

The victim blocked Wilson and stopped all contact but upon creating a new Facebook account, he was bombarded with messages from Wilson.

Ms Campbell said: “The accused stated that he was to hand over £ 3000 or the image would be shared with friends and family.

“On February 27, the accused did send the image to the complainer’s mother, father and current partner.

Court documents state that Wilson also shared the explicit image with the victim’s then employer and other witnesses.

On February 28, Wilson messaged her victim again, this time demanding £ 800 from him.

But he then realised that the snap had been sent to a number of people and sent screenshot­s of his conversati­on with Wilson to the police.

On March 15, police arrested Wilson where she gave officers permission to seize her phone and check the content within.

While on route to Clydebank Police Station, she said: “Is this about that boy from Ayr?

“I know what this is all about.” Defence solicitor Stephen Maguire said the case was “rather unusual”.

He said: “Ms Wilson appreciate­s the serious nature of this and appreciate­s what she’s pled guilty to.

“It’s fair to say there are some different discrepanc­ies in the background.

Court documents state that Wilson sent intimidati­ng messages to her victim’s partner and accused him of requesting sex from her in exchange of money.

Mr Maguire said that the exchange of messages was set against “a particular backdrop” and added: “What that backdrop was, only they know.”

He said: “The crown are proceeding on the basis of a selection of screenshot­s which don’t give the full picture.

“Whatever the background, Ms Wilson’s conduct is criminal and she knows that.

“She does recognise this behaviour doesn’t just affect her and the complainer but other people who she involved.

“To involve other people is inexcusabl­e.

“Her position was the complainer was a few years older.

“He had contacted her initially and messages progressed.

Mr Maguire said the pair developed an “intimate relationsh­ip online” but Wilson then became “annoyed and aggravated by his conduct”.

He said: “If she feels the complainer brought something upon himself then she can feel that way.

“But we are dealing with someone who’s 18 and never been involved with the courts before.

Mr Maguire said that Wilson was 17 at the time of the offence, adding: “Certainly immature; a series of very ill choices and behaviour that will not be repeated.”

Sheriff Liam Murphy said: “These are serious offences that you’ve pled guilty to which I’m of the view would undeniably have had a considerab­le significan­t impact on the complainer and those who employ him.

“I’m going to approach this based on the narrative which the crown presented.

“I consider your suspicions and where they contradict and I take into account that you take responsibi­lity for what has happened and the impact that this has had.

“The recommenda­tion is for a noncustodi­al sentence, I intend to follow that- which will be an alternativ­e to custody.”

Wilson was placed on a community payback order where she will be supervised in the community for 18 months and must carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within six months.

People convicted of sharing intimate images without consent can face up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.

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Guilty Wilson Ashleigh- Rose
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