A Chester woman has pleaded guilty to sharing a private photo of her friend online following a heated social media dispute.
Jessica Bailey, 22, posted the image of her friend changing in a bathroom, accusing the victim of trolling her on Snapchat. When confronted about her actions, Bailey dismissively replied, “Because I can.”
Initially attempting to justify her behaviour, Bailey later changed her story after learning about the legal consequences. She pleaded guilty to two charges of sharing an intimate image with the intent to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation.
Court Hearing and Sentence
The court heard that the victim had never consented to the photo being taken or shared. The image, captured in July last year, caused psychological distress, with prosecutors describing Bailey’s actions as an emotional reaction to feeling misrepresented online.
Bailey admitted that she had been drinking at the time and described her actions as a “tit for tat” response. She later expressed remorse for the harm she caused.
At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Bailey was sentenced to an 18-month community order. As part of her punishment, she must:
- Wear a sobriety tag for 120 days to monitor alcohol consumption
- Complete 35 days of rehabilitation activity
- Pay £199 in costs and a victim surcharge
Delivering the sentence, JP Frances Miller issued a stern warning:
“Make sure you do everything probation asks of you, or they may well bring you back here.”
