Hawkes will serve a sentence of 66 weeks for his crime (Picture: Getty)
A man has become the first person in England and Wales to be jailed for a cyber-flashing offence.
Nicholas Hawkes, 39, will serve a sentence of 66 weeks after he targeted a woman and a teenage girl with pictures of an exposed penis.
The 39-year-old, from Basildon, Essex, pleaded guilty to two counts of sending a photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation when he appeared in the dock at Southend Magistrates’ Court.
The Crown Prosecution Service introduced new powers to prosecute crimes including cyber-flashing, sharing ‘deepfake’ nude images, and ‘down-blousing’ weeks prior.
In October last year, the Online Safety Act was passed into law, making it a criminal offence to send unsolicited images of genitals.
The cases are reviewed by prosecutors based on their impact on the victim, whether they are alarmed, distressed or humiliated.
Hawkes is the first in the UK and Wales to be jailed for cyberflashing (Picture: Getty)
They will also consider whether the person sending the photo did so to gain sexual gratification.
CPS’ Siobhan Blake previously said: ‘Women and girls should be able to go about their lives and daily commutes without being subjected to and bombarded with unwanted sexual images.
‘Our prosecutors are ready and committed to tackling this unacceptable behaviour.
‘We would encourage anyone who has been subjected to the illegal act of cyberflashing to come forward and report it.
‘This is a serious crime, and we will work with police to build strong cases against offenders who use technology to harass, distress and abuse victims for their own pleasure.
‘The Online Safety Act and our accompanying guidance will give prosecutors powerful tools needed to go further in safeguarding women and girls against predatory online behaviours.
‘These will also allow us to send before the courts and bring to justice those who hide behind computer screens and smartphones to carry out their abusive behaviours.’
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