Jilted teen who sent revenge porn of woman he met online to her parents is spared jail

Leeds Magistrates Court in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Mara met his victim on Facebook before chatting to her via text messages and Snapchat, Leeds Magistrates Court, pictured, heard. (Getty)

A teenager who sent revenge porn videos to the parents and colleagues of a woman he met online after she started dating another man has been spared jail.

Zachariah Mara, 19, met the victim on Facebook before they started chatting via text messages and Snapchat over 18 months.

The conversation became "explicit” in nature, with both parties sending consensual videos and images to each other.

However, when the woman ended their 18-month romance to start a relationship with someone else, the "self-pitying" teen bombarded her with unwanted gifts and sent her more than 100 emails, Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard.

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Prosecutor Diane Rawnsley told the court that Mara, an electrical engineer, hounded his victim with "insulting and self-pitying" messages and threats to send the explicit images to her parents.

Ms Rawnsley said the victim stayed in contact with Mara because she was worried he would harm himself.

On 1 April, he emailed the victim's mother and father images of her.

Dramatic portrait of sad scared young woman victim of online harassment and cyberbullying. looking at smart mobile phone stressed and in fear
A teenager who sent revenge porn videos to the parents and colleagues of a woman he met online after she started dating another man has been spared jail. (Getty)

He then set up a fake Facebook profile and, posing as another man, sent the explicit images to a friend of the victim.

The victim only found out when she was told about the messages in work the next day.

Ms Rawnsley told the court the images were sent to cause "maximum distress or humiliation" to the victim.

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She added the victim has suffered with changes in her mood since the incident, which has caused great harm and stress for her and her family.

Mara, from West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to two charges of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress and one charge of harassment without violence.

Usama Patel, mitigating, said Mara had cooperated in full with the police and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Mr Patel said: "He met the victim when he was 17 years old. During the cyber relationship they became very close. It lasted for 18 months and they spoke regularly. He said the relationship was as good as he'd ever had.

"When he found out about the new relationship the lady he believed he was with has entered into, it was particularly difficult for him.

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"He makes no excuses for his actions. He knows it was a stupid and serious thing that he did.

"He has expressed how sorry he is. He has shown genuine remorse for her.”

Lead magistrate Ruth Heatley handed Mara an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work and complete 30 rehabilitation activity days.

A restraining order was made banning Mara from contacting the victim and her family for two years.