Revenge Porn Solicitors
McArthur Solicitors are expert revenge porn solicitors in London, providing expert legal advice for individuals accused of sharing intimate images.
What Is Revenge Porn?
Also called image-based sexual abuse, revenge porn is when one party in a sexually explicit video or photo shares the content online without the consent of the others involved. The sharing of intimate photographs and videos can cause significant emotional distress for the other parties involved, and includes sharing material online, in private messages with others, or via physical photographs or videos.
Revenge porn is illegal under section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Court Act 2015. In 2021, threatening to share intimate images or videos was also made an offence under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
The law covers material of a sexual nature and intimate material, and the criminal justice and courts system prosecutes these specific offences. Revenge porn is a serious criminal offence that can damage your reputation and potentially lead to imprisonment.
How Is Revenge Porn Defined
Section 33(1) of the Criminal Justice and Court Act 2015 states:
It is an offence for a person to disclose a private sexual photograph or film if the disclosure is made:
(a) without the consent of an individual who appears in the photograph or film, and
(b) with the intention of causing that individual distress.
Under the law, ‘private’ is defined as any material that wouldn’t be viewed by the public. ‘Sexual’ means that the individual’s exposed genitals are featured in the material, or contain content that a reasonable individual would consider sexual.
Even if the person featured in the image or video that has been shared is fully clothed, if they are participating in a sexual activity, this would qualify as revenge porn.
The law applies equally to all forms of images and videos, including digitally altered or AI-generated images. Even if an image has been manipulated, it is still considered a private sexual photograph if it depicts the person in a sexual context and was intended to remain private.
Penalties For Revenge Porn
There are several potential penalties if you are convicted for a revenge pornography offence. The maximum penalty is two years imprisonment in scenarios where it is determined that the intent of sharing the content was to humiliate or distress the victim.
There are several factors that can influence the sentencing for revenge porn cases:
- How widely the images were distributed
- If an effort was made to keep the material visible
- If the accused party intended to cause distress and tried to maximise the humiliation or embarrassment of the victim
Other potential penalties for revenge porn include fines, and potentially restraining orders to prevent further contact with the victim.
Revenge Porn Defences
The experts at McArthur Solicitors are highly experienced in defending against revenge porn cases. There are multiple potential defences our solicitors may take when fighting your case:
- If you reasonably believed sharing the content was necessary to detect, prevent, or investigate a crime.
- If the content was disclosed with the view of being used in journalistic material that you believed was in the public interest.
- If you reasonably believed the image had previously been disclosed with the other person’s consent.
- If you believed the individual gave their consent to share this material.
Every revenge porn case is fact-specific. Our legal team will carefully assess your situation, advise you of your rights, and build a robust strategy aimed at achieving the best possible outcome.
Get Expert Legal Advice With McArthur Solicitors
Being accused of revenge porn is highly distressing, and can have serious repercussions for both your personal and professional life. Here at McArthur Solicitors, we are specialist sexual offence and revenge porn solicitors with a wealth of experience in defending against these cases.
What To Do If You Are Accused Of Revenge Porn
If you are accused of sharing revenge porn, seek legal advice from a specialist revenge porn solicitor immediately. You may be called in for questioning by the police, in which you can request a solicitor, such as one of the experts from McArthur Solicitors.
Acting early to secure legal representation once accused allows your solicitor to begin work early on your case. Our solicitors will be able to guide you through the pre-charge stage, ensuring you understand your rights and fully comprehend the charges against you.
Acting early means we can work with you to secure the best possible outcome for your case. Our team has a wealth of sexual offence and criminal defence expertise we bring to every revenge porn case we take on
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Revenge Porn FAQs
Any explicit materials that are uploaded to the internet or shared without the consent of everyone involved is considered revenge porn. This includes if they are shared on social media, in private messages, and via physical media.
Yes, if you are convicted of a revenge porn offence, you will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register. This can have devastating consequences on your personal and professional life, so get in touch with the specialist solicitors at McArthur Solicitors to fight your case.
Image-based sexual abuse is another phrase for revenge porn. Like with revenge porn, this includes sharing private sexual photographs, videos, and other material without the explicit consent of the other party.
Yes, even if images are altered by AI or image altering software, it still is classed as revenge porn, and is therefore still a serious criminal offence.
There is no defined timeline for how long revenge porn investigations can take. Investigations typically involve extensively examining electronic devices, communication records, and social media accounts to gather evidence, as well as interviewing suspects and witnesses. This can take several weeks, or even months, but with McArthur Solicitors, we will defend your rights throughout the entire process.
Contact Revenge Porn Solicitors In London
We understand the impact that being accused of sharing revenge porn can have. We are committed to upholding the highest professional standards, and will always work closely with you to minimise disruption to your personal and work life.
During your private consultation, your solicitor will review your circumstances and explain the best legal options available, so you understand the next steps. Our team are passionate about seeking justice for our clients, and are results-focused to secure the best possible outcome for everyone we work with.
Don’t delay – get in touch with McArthur Solicitors for expert advice.
