Revenge porn exes could be spared jail

EMBITTERED lovers who spread revenge porn will escape jail terms if they can persuade a court they did not mean to cause harm, according to guidelines for judges.

This can apply even if the images cause serious psychological harm to an ex-partner. Other excuses likely to lead a judge to show leniency include a successful claim that the revenge porn was posted on the spur of the moment, or that the pictures were not seen widely or for a long time.

The rules for courts, which will come into force at the beginning of October, have been drawn up by the Sentencing Council, the judge-led body that advises courts on the penalties they should impose. Courts have to follow the guidance unless it would be clearly unjust to do so.

Critics accused the Council of undermining the law on disclosing private sexual images, which came into force in 2015.

The Council, headed by Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett and Appeal judge Lord Justice Treacy, insisted it regarded revenge porn offences as ‘particularly serious’.