Redding ex threatened to post sex video of his former partner online

Steven Campbell (35), The Quoit, 63 Main Street, Redding, made the threat during a phone call to his terrified former partner in the early hours of the morning. He later claimed he was responding to texts she had sent to stating he should hang himself.

Campbell appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday have pled guilty to causing his former partner fear and alarm by his actions on April 28.

The procurator fiscal depute said: “It was 3am and the witness was woken by he phone ringing. It was a call from her ex partner. He told he would put a video recording on Facebook of her having sexual intercourse with him.

“The accused then said if she did not accept £1000 and take him back she would face the consequences of the video being posted online.”

The woman hung up on Campbell and when she called her again she recorded the conversation on her i-Pad.

“She was terrified of the prospect of the video going public,” said the procurator fiscal depute. “It placed her in a state of fear and alarm. She believes the video was recorded while they were still in a relationship, but the thought it had been deleted.

“Police officers traced the accused to his home and he admitted to having a video of him have sexual intercourse with his former partner, but he said he didn’t threaten her that he he would release the video – he said it was not true.”

Defence solicitor Simon Hutchison said: “The video doesn’t exist any more. He wishes he had never done it, but he was responding to texts sent by her that said for him to hang himself.”

When asked if his client would have published the video online, Mr Hutchison responded: “It couldn’t happen because he doesn’t have the video.”

The court heard Campbell had been placed on the Caledonian Programme for domestic abusers.

Sheriff Derek Livingston said: “I accept there was an element of provocation to this regarding an unpleasant comment made to you, but you do have a history of domestic offending.”

Campbell was fined £1000 to be paid back at a rate of £100 per month and he was also placed on a non harassment order for 12 months, meaning he can have no contact at all with his former partner during that period of time.

The 2017 Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm Act legislation makes it an offence to “disclose, or threaten to disclose, an intimate photograph or film” without consent.

It came into force in response to a growing problem as easy access to devices like smart phones means pictures and videos taken with the expectation of privacy can be now far more easily shared publicly online through outlets such as social media.

It covers photographs or films showing people engaged in a sexual activity or depicting people in a state of undress which would not usually be seen in public.