Mother-of-four who posted explicit pictures of her former lesbian lover on Facebook becomes the first woman to be jailed for 'revenge porn' in the UK

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Samantha Watt, 31, (pictured has become the first woman to be jailed for revenge porn in the UK

A mother-of-four who posted explicit images of her former lover on Facebook has become the first woman to be jailed for revenge porn in the UK.

Samantha Watt, 31, took intimate photographs of the 21-year-old woman while they were in a relationship, including one of the victim performing a sex act on her.

She then posted the photographs on Facebook, warning that there would be 'more' if she did not stop 'treating her badly'. She then actively encouraged her friends to suggest the victim was involved in prostitution and paedophilia.

Watt also included the caption: ‘This girl pays for rent with sex and dirty pics lol'.  

The unemployed cleaner has now been jailed for 18 weeks after Highbury Magistrates' Court heard the impact on her victim had been 'enormous'. She will serve only half before she is released on licence.

Handing down the sentence, district judge Julia Newton said: 'In her personal statement she expresses concern that the photos may re-emerge in the future.

‘The photos themselves are very graphic in nature and were widely available for distribution over which she had no control. 

‘She was clearly identified in the post and there were comments about her being involved in prostitution and paedophilia that you actively encouraged.

‘All of that makes this matter so serious that only a custodial sentence is an option.’ 

Prosecutor Anja Hohmeyer told the court how Watt, from Enfield, north London, had initially claimed one of the pictures was of herself rather than her victim. 

She also told police that the picture of the sex act was intended as a joke and that it was the victim’s idea to post it on Facebook. 

But she later admitted to police that it was intended as a threat because she wanted the victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons - to ‘feel alone’.

She had captioned the photo saying: 'She wants a taste of Sam’s life she’s getting a taste of how I can be. You can’t disrespect me.’ 

The mother-of-four (pictured left and rightt) took intimate photographs of her 21-year-old victim while they were in a relationship. She then posted the pictures, including the victrim performing a sex act, on Facebook

When Watt’s Facebook friends suggested the victim was involved in prostitution and paedophilia,Watt responded: ‘We all know her well some know her better than others you get me?’

Ms Hohmeyer told the court: ‘There are a number of serious aggravating features in this case.

‘The crown would say that even though she does not have any previous convictions it passes the custody threshold and requires an immediate custodial sentence.

‘I would invite the court to take a very robust view and make a very robust decision.’

Layla Ferguson, defending, told the court that her client suffered with depression and struggled to control her emotions.

She also said that Watt, whose four children are in care, had lost her job and become distant from her mother as a result of the case

She said: ‘Ms Watt would like to express her sincere apologies for the distress caused. She was diagnosed with depression earlier this year and is taking medication as a result.

‘There was an argument between her and the complainant and she admits she made a mistake and she is ashamed and embarrassed about what has happened.

‘She suffered domestic abuse in her previous relationship and has fallen out with her mother due to these proceedings.’

Watt admitted two charges of disclosing private sexual photographs with the intent to cause distress.

As well as being jailed, she was also made the subject of a 12-month community supervision order.

She was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge, £180 court costs and a contribution to prosecution costs of £200 meaning a total of £460 to be be paid by May 26, 2016.

Disclosing private sexual images to cause distress was only made illegal in February this year.

Paige Mitchell, 21, recently became the first woman prosecuted after she posted a topless image of a former lover on Facebook without his consent.