A YOUNG man who “humiliated” a teenage girl by sending a nude video of her to her mother has been spared jail.

Shoan Norman Harold, 21, pleaded guilty to distributing an indecent photograph of a child and disclosing a private sexual photograph or film with intent to cause distress.

A hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday, February 13, was told how Harold, who was aged 18 at the time of the offence in February 2020, pressured the victim – a 16-year-old girl – into sending nude images of herself.

Upon the victim informing Harold of her not wanting further contact with him, Harold, of Latimer Road, Bournemouth, sent her numerous abusive messages before sending an explicit video of the girl to her mother.

When asked by the victim why he had shared the image, the court heard Harold laughed and said “it was to show how much of a ****” the victim was.

Bournemouth Echo:

Harold’s behaviour was described by prosecuting barrister Emily Evans as “bullying and controlling” and said the offence was “clearly intended to cause maximum distress”.

Richard Martin, mitigating, argued the defendant’s mental health and “cognitive impairments” had to be taken into consideration. He said: “This was a mean, humiliating offence, there’s no doubt about that.

“But he realises that what he did was utterly unacceptable.

“He is sorry for what has happened. This is something that is clearly out of character.”

Mr Martin also said Harold, who had no previous convictions, acted as an unofficial caregiver for his grandmother, with whom he lives.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Pawson said: “There are two victims of this crime, [the victim] and her mother.

Bournemouth Echo:

“You were controlling, you were insecure and thoroughly unpleasant. This was cruel and controlling behaviour of the worst kind.

“It was absolutely despicable.”

However, Judge Pawson noted the “staggering delay” between Harold’s arrest in February 2020 and his being charged in December 2022. He said the fact Harold had not reoffended during that time was “significant” and recognised his mental impairments.

Harold was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. He will also be subject to an electronically tagged curfew at his home address for four months between 7pm and 6am, and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Judge Pawson added: “I very much hope that this is a one off and you won’t be back in the criminal courts again.”

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