A 31-YEAR-OLD man who shared a video of himself performing a sex act on a woman has become the first person in East Lancashire to be prosecuted over revenge porn.

Andrew Russell Donnelly, who also sent a second video of them having sex to one of her friends, has been described as ‘despicable’ and ‘nasty’.

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Donnelly, of Hazel Close, Blackburn was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 18 weeks after admitting sending out the films at Blackburn Magistrates Court.

Community leaders said they hoped the fact he has been prosecuted would act as a warning to others.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said: “It’s a despicable crime.

“You’re taking somebody’s most private moments and making them public for the sole purpose of revenge.

“I do feel for the victim who must be going through considerable embarrassment, if not humiliation.

“I hope this prosecution serves as a lesson to others that this kind of gratuitous behaviour is unacceptable.”

The court heard Donnelly told the woman he had sent an explicit video of him performing a sex act on her to a pornography website.

He later sent the woman another video of them having sex accompanied by the message “Facebook here we come”.

The court was told Donnelly eventually published the first video on Facebook and then sent the second one to a friend of hers.

Andrew Stephenson, Pendle MP, said: “I campaigned strongly in Parliament for revenge porn to become a criminal offence and I am really pleased to see the police and crown prosecution service now using these powers to bring people to account.

“It is vile, nasty and has no place in a civilised society.”

Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said: “Crimes such as these are abhorrent and I am supportive of the relevant authorities taking action to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice.”

Donnelly pleaded guilty to disclosing private sexual films with intent to cause distress and two charges of criminal damage to property belonging to the same victim.

As well as the suspended prison sentence, magistrates made Donnelly subject to community supervision with a 25 day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was made subject to a restraining order for two years.

Neil White, prosecuting, said the revenge porn had been designed to cause maximum embarrassment.

He said: “The first video came available to anyone who was a friend of his or hers.

“It was a very personal and intimate video which would cause incredible embarrassment wherever it was posted but even more so because it would be seen by her nearest and dearest.”

Richard Prew, defending, said Donnelly committed the video offence after he had been charged and bailed for the damage.

He said: “As a result he has already spent six weeks in custody, the equivalent of a three month sentence.

“He pleaded guilty and didn’t make the victim come to court for the more embarrassing of the offences.”

In April 2015, the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 created a new criminal offence of Revenge Pornography, making it a criminal offence to disclose private sexual photographs and films without the consent of an individual who appears in them and with the intent to cause that individual distress.

A police spokesman said Donnelly’s prosecution was the first in East Lancashire.

He said: “The law is quite clear on so-called ‘revenge porn’ and ‘sexting’ and police and the criminal justice system are taking both more seriously than ever in a bid to try and stop people being exploited in this way.

“Anybody who believes sexual images of themselves have been shared or published without their permission is urged to contact police on 101.”