The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Disgraced Alloa defender in court over sex footage
A SHAMED young footballer who filmed himself having sex with a woman and then distributed the footage and naked shots of her to others could find his career in tatters after having his name placed on the sex offenders register.
Disgraced Alloa Athletic player Jonathan Mark Tiffoney denied involvement but was found guilty after a trial that ran for two days at Paisley Sheriff Court.
The 23-year-old recorded footage of the woman then filmed them having sex.
Police were called in when it was discovered that he had distributed the images to and shown nude photographs of the woman to others.
The offence was committed between March and May 2012.
Tiffoney, of Glasgow Road, Paisley, was convicted after trial and Sheriff Seith Ireland last month told him he would have to call for full background reports before deciding upon a suitable disposal.
He was also convicted of spitting at the same woman during an incident at his home on May 15 2012.
When he returned to court to learn his fate, Sheriff Ireland said there was currently much debate and concern being expressed about sharing images of intimacy — particularly following the breakdown of relationships.
“This must be viewed seriously,” he told Tiffoney.
“We saw how distraught she was when she gave evidence — that you had betrayed her and that these images had been shown to others.”
A defence agent said that Tiffoney works as a professional footballer and part-time coach and would f ind both careers adversely affected as a result of the convictions.
Background reports concluded that his activity had not been deviant in nature,” she went on.
“He is struggling to come to terms with this,” she said.
Sentencing him, the sheriff said that, despite the serious nature of the offence, he had concluded that a jail term was not required.
“It must be made clear that the courts view such matters seriously,” he said.
“The effect on the victim in cases such as this can involve a great deal of emotional distress.”
Sheriff Ireland told Tiffoney that he had decided to place him on an 18-month community payback order, which would require him to complete 15 hours of unpaid work.
The sheriff also ordered that Tiffoney’s name should be placed on the sex offenders register for 18 months.