02-08-2025
Scots man handed community service after posting vile revenge porn on social media
Craig Starkey was found guilty of abusive behaviour and sexual harm earlier following a trial at court.
A Scots man has dodged jail after he was found guilty of uploading revenge porn to social media.
Craig Starkey was found guilty of abusive behaviour and sexual harm on July 16, after a trial at Stranraer Sheriff Court.
The 32-year-old uploaded the film to a social media account on August 4, 2024, showing a woman in an 'intimate situation' without her consent.
The court heard how third parties were able to view the footage, and that this in turn caused the woman 'fear, alarm and distress.'
Despite the guilty verdict, Starkey avoided jail time as Sheriff Sutherland slapped him with a Community Payback Order where he will be under the supervision of social work for 12 months.
Starkey was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work within six months.
A further review has been fixed on October 8 and he has been ordained to appear at the same court on this date.
The Scottish Government previously published advice to anyone who has been the victim of revenge porn and promised authorities are there to help..
A spokesperson said: "Intimate image abuse, sometimes called 'revenge porn' or 'the non-consensual sharing of intimate images', is the sharing of intimate images without a person's consent.
"If you think you may have been a victim of intimate image abuse, the Police and support services are there to help you. It can happen to anyone and you are not to blame.
"Intimate image abuse can happen in different circumstances; it may be with a current partner or ex partner or you may have been a victim of grooming."
