‘Stay away’ order for revenge porn threats

Man claimed to have intimate pics of former lover

A man who threatened to release intimate photos of a former lover following a campaign of harrassment has been ordered to stay away from her.

William Fleming (34), Mossgiel Avenue, Cowie, appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday (June 21)charged with engaging in a course of conduct that caused his former partner fear and alarm.

The court heard how, after spending two separate nights together, Fleming began to harass his victim by contacting her on social media and driving past her house.

Fiscal depute, Laura Knox said: “The accused and the complainer had known each other since 2011. They had sexual intercourse on two separate occasions.

“On both of the occasions she made it known that these were one-off.”

In May 2016 she began a relationship with someone else.

Fleming began to send Snapchats and regularly drive past the victims house as well as send her text messages.

He attended her Stirling home numerous times and on one occasions shouted through the letter box.

The victim had naked photos of herself on a mobile phone. She later sold the phone.

Fleming then falsely claimed to be in possession of the photos.

Ms Knox added: “The accused advised that he had those photos. He was threatening to show the pictures to her friends and family”.

In January this year Fleming turned up at her home address whist she was out and a neighbour reported seeing him within the property.

The victim then told her new partner that she believed Fleming had obtained the intimate images and it was at that point that the police were contacted.

Fleming’s defence solicitor noted how the self employed electrician “was embarrassed and ashamed of his behaviour”.

Sentencing, Sheriff William Gilchrist said: “This was obviously persistent behaviour over several months that caused great stress, particularly the threat, even though it was an empty threat.”

Fleming was placed on a nonharrassment order for two years, banning him from contacting or approaching the victim.

He was also given a community payback order that includes 120 hours of unpaid work and supervision for a year.

This was persistent behaviour that caused great stress