Drunk man sent indecent video to ex

A MAN who sent his ex-partner an indecent video has appeared in court.

Wayne Oakes, aged 40, was drunk when he forwarded the 87-second long clip to the woman, who opened it thinking it would be a film of their son, Derby Crown Court has been told. She called police when she saw what her former boyfriend had actually sent.

Oakes, of Blackfordby, near Swadlincote, said he forwarded this one to his ex in error and claimed he was often sent what he called “funny” videos by friends.

Katrina Wilson, prosecuting, said the offence took place on September 12, 2018, and now he will have to attend rehabilitation sessions with the probation service to address his offending after pleading guilty to possession of an extreme pornographic image.

She said the defendant was bombarding his ex-partner and mother of his son, with text messages and emails.

Miss Wilson said: “She opened the video expecting it to be of their three-year-old son and was horrified by what she saw. The clip is one minute and 27 seconds long and she contacted the police who attended his address and seized his mobile phone.”

Miss Wilson said on the phone, as well as the film clip, were three still images taken from the video as screen shots.

She said: “In interview he said it must have been sent to him by one of his friends and that he was drunk and had forwarded it and that he could not remember what it showed. He said he often received what he called ‘funny videos’ from friends and forwarded them on and that on this occasion he had intended to send (the woman) a photo of their child.”

Recorder David Mason QC asked Miss Wilson why the case had taken so long from the date of the offence to this court hearing. She replied there was a large police backlog of cases involving downloads of evidence from devices and that the pandemic had also added to the delay.

Oakes, of Strawberry Lane, and who defended himself, said he would be happy to receive support from the probation service.

Recorder Mason handed him a 12-month community order with 30 rehabilitation sessions.

He said: “It seems to me from what the probation service recommend that would be the appropriate sentence. You have been out of trouble since 2014, this offence is two-and-a-half years old and there has been no trouble between you and your ex-partner during that time.”