Strangers turns up at woman’s home believing they’d been invited after man posts ‘revenge porn’ on swinger sites

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Strangers turned up at a woman’s house claiming to have been invited after so-called “revenge porn” images of her were posted online.

The victim, aged in her 30s, only found out that naked pictures of her were circulating on swinger and porn websites when a friend asked her about them.

And a video had also been posted to messaging platforms, prompting a “distressing onslaught” of abuse, police said.

Darren Rowe, from Rowley Regis, has now been handed a suspended prison sentence following a two-year investigation that began in June 2017.

The 49-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress at Wolverhampton Crown Court last week.

West Midlands Police said in a statement: “Rowe initially denied any involvement but police traced an email address linked to the images to a property in Stourbridge, where Rowe had been working at the time.

“When officers arrested Rowe they found a number of mobile phones and electronic devices including data which connected him to the images.”

PC Lee Newell, of the West Bromwich CID, added:”This has been a long and complex case. His victim has suffered a distressing onslaught of online abuse.”

Rowe was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years, and slapped with five-year restraining and sexual harm prevention orders. He must also carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and complete 25 hours of a rehabilitation course.

His victim said in a statement: “Darren put me through hell and affected my mental health, all whilst trying to convince me that he was here to help me.

“I believe he put me in danger for his own enjoyment and I would encourage any other woman going through something like this to report it.

“You learn to live with it daily, unfortunately, but time is a good healer. If anyone is going through this, I beg you to speak out, you are not alone.”