Revenge pornography - or revenge porn - is a serious sexual offence.
If you are facing allegations relating to revenge porn, you will need the help of an accomplished firm of solicitors with expertise and experience in defending such accusations.
At Monan Gozzett, our dedicated team of sexual offence solicitors can advise and support you with a view to protecting you from conviction.
If you have been accused of a revenge porn offence, contact us on 0207 936 6329. Our team will be able to provide you with immediate, quality guidance on your next steps.
What Is Revenge Porn?
Revenge porn is a criminal sexual offence. It is classified as such in Section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.
This defines revenge porn as ‘Disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.’
The law applies to both online and offline activity. So, for example, an allegation of revenge porn can be made if the material is shared electronically via social media or physically shown to a third party (explicit photos or video).
A photograph or film is deemed private if it shows something that would not ordinarily be seen in public.
For something to be classed as sexual, it requires that the images or videos show the person’s genitals or include sexual acts or a person posing in “a sexually provocative way”.
What Are The Penalties For Revenge Porn?
Revenge porn cases can be heard in a Magistrate’s Court or a Crown Court depending on several factors, including the severity of the offence.
The maximum custodial sentence that can be handed down is two years.
A revenge porn offence will be considered particularly serious if it is considered that the defendant aimed to maximise the distress caused, for example, by:
- Sending images to the victim’s family.
- Significant planning, such as setting up fake social media accounts to post the images.
- Inviting comments and/or contact which could result in abuse and sexualised contact from strangers.
Revenge Porn Defences
There are a number of sexual offence defences that can be considered for various accusations, including revenge porn.
Examples of specific defences for this alleged offence include:
- It is not an offence to disclose the photograph or film to the individual who appears in the material;
- It is a defence if the defendant reasonably believed that the disclosure was necessary for the investigation, prevention or detection of crime;
- It is a defence to publish journalistic material so long as the person concerned reasonably believed its publication was or would be in the public interest
How Our Revenge Porn Defence Solicitors Can Help
Monan Gozzett has a dedicated team of lawyers for revenge porn accusations. We can advise on the best course of action to take as soon as an allegation has been made and arrange for police station attendance and pre-charge representation.
We also vigorously defend clients at trial and advise them throughout the appeal process if they are already convicted at the time of our instruction. We appreciate the need to handle each case sensitively and with discretion, ensuring that you and your family are supported throughout each stage of the process.
Contact Monan Gozzett
If you are facing allegations of revenge porn, contact our defence solicitors today.
We can discuss your situation and advise on the best route forward.
Get in touch using any of the links below or on our contact page.
If you would like to speak to our expert legal team about this, or any related subject then please contact our team by phone on 0207 936 6329, Email or by completing our Quick Contact Form below.