England Has Its First Conviction for Cyberflashing
First conviction under Online Safety Act for sending unsolicited sexual images.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
Nicholas Hawkes, a convicted sex offender, has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for sending unsolicited photos of his genitals to a girl and a woman. This case marks the first conviction in England and Wales under the Online Safety Act, which makes it illegal to send unsolicited sexual images. Hawkes had previously been convicted of exposure and sexual activity with a child under 16. The woman who received the photos reported him to the police, leading to his arrest and guilty plea for breaching previous court orders. The cyberflashing law, in effect since Jan. 31, aims to combat such behavior on social media and dating apps.