Stalker guilty of ‘revenge porn’

A jilted stalker who subjected his ex to a terrifying campaign of abuse is thought to be the first person sentenced over ‘revenge porn’ in Britain.
'Revenge porn' stalker Alec Brewer has been sentenced.'Revenge porn' stalker Alec Brewer has been sentenced.
'Revenge porn' stalker Alec Brewer has been sentenced.

In what magistrates called an “unforgiveable breach of trust”, Alec Brewer shared pictures - including a naked snap - of her with his new girlfriend after the victim dumped him.

The court heard how the mum-of-one had no idea he’d taken the pictures, which she feared would be seen by her family.

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The spiteful act brought an end to a “suffocating” stalking campaign, with Brewer even getting a job at The Rosette - the victim’s local - to keep tabs on her.

Alec BrewerAlec Brewer
Alec Brewer

Scarborough Magistrates heard that Brewer even took pictures of her on the sly when she was out, after she ended their relationship earlier this year due to his “controlling and obsessive” behaviour.

The pair met at Scalby School and had been teenage sweethearts before the victim, who we have agreed not to name, married and had a child.

But just one day after that relationship finished in 2013, Brewer made his move and messaged her on Facebook to try and rekindle the flame.

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It worked, with the couple enjoying an “on-off” relationship for the next two years.

But things turned ugly after they broke up, with even the pub’s landlady telling Brewer to “stop stalking her”.

She blocked him on Facebook to try and shake him off, but it didn’t work with police called at the height of Brewer’s stalking campaign to get him away from her home as he waited for her.

Police didn’t arrest him, and instead just took him back to his South Avenue address.

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But he didn’t take the hint, texting her with the message “thanks for the lift home”.

In court, Brewer’s solicitor Marcus Topham said the text was simply his misguided attempt at being “sarcastic”.

But nobody was laughing when Brewer turned up at her door again a short time after - this time with his new girlfriend in tow.

Once there, he told his new flame that he would rather be with the victim, which left his new partner distraught.

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Brewer had been sending incriminating nude snaps of his ex to his new girlfriend on June 10, but she took a screenshot of those messages and passed them to the victim.

The court heard how Brewer had between seven and 15 images of the victim, and that one of the two he’d sent showed her completely naked, stroking her hair”.

“I felt sick that he would have photos of me like that,” she sad through a victim statement read out in court.

“I was scared that he would post them on the internet for everyone to see including my family.”

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The publication of the pictures to a third party has been illegal since April 13, when hew legislation was brought in to crack down on the growing trend of ‘revenge porn’ attacks.

The law was introduced to put an end to ‘revenge porn’, in which jilted partners - usually men - would publish explicit pictures of their ex’s online on forums and websites without the subject’s consent.

“Pictures of me naked or semi naked are personal to me,” added the victim.

“I would never allow them to be taken.”

She added: “I’m extremely upset that he’s done that to me.”

Prior to Brewer It’s thought that only one person has been convicted in Britain over ‘revenge porn’, although with Brewer having previously pleaded guilty, it’s understood that he may be the first person to be sentenced.

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As such, Mr Topham admitted there were no real guidelines for the bench for his sentence, although the offence can carry up to two years imprisonment.

But in mitigation he said Brewer’s actions were “out of character” - but admitted his conduct had been “annoying and harassing”.

“This is an immature individual who has fallen in love with a lady,” he added.

“He’s been looking for a reason as to why it’s over.”

And while he conceded the pictures were “intimate”, he felt they fell short of being classed as pornographic.

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He also claimed Brewer had been diagnosed with a rare medical condition which could have contributed to his actions.

“He has been heartbroken by the breakup of the relationship - it will not happen again as far as he is concerned,” added the solicitor.

And outside of court, Brewer told The Scarborough News that his actions were as a result of a “broken heart taken too far”.

But after pleading guilty to stalking and disclosing the photographs, Brewer had been told that “all options” were being considered by the bench.

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But despite taking a dim view of his “persistent and obsessive behaviour”, the bench spared him prison.

He was instead handed a 13 week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

Brewer, who will have to pay charges of £345, was also slapped with an indefinite restraining order to not approach the victim.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Walker, Head of Cybercrime for North Yorkshire Police, said: “Prosecutions such as this demonstrate that we take all forms of cybercrime very seriously.

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“‘Revenge porn’ offences are extremely distressing for victims, but they can feel confident that we will use this new legislation to bring offenders to justice. I would urge anyone who feels they have been a victim of this kind of offending to contact the police for advice and support.”

Further information about cybercrime is available on the North Yorkshire Police website at http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/cybercrime.

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