NOTTINGHAM TRENT STUDENT'S UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE RUINED BY SEXUAL PHOTOS SHARED ONLINE
A Nottingham Trent student’s "university experience was ruined” by sexual photographs of her being shared to “a Freshers WhatsApp group”.Nottingham Crown Court heard how Jamal Kitenge carried out the offence “to maximise distress” to the victim, whose identity is protected by law.
The now 22-year-old, who was in his first year at the time, also sent the same victim messages in which he threatened to assault her.
But as he has stayed out of trouble since the offences were committed more than three years ago, he has been spared a custodial prison term for his criminal actions.
Handing the defendant a 12-month community order, Judge Steven Coupland said: “You sent intimate pictures of her to a Fresher’s WhatsApp group and you did that to maximise the distress for her.
What you did was particularly upsetting and caused considerable anxiety and ruined her university experience.
“But you are still only 22 now and you were 18 or 19 at the time and described by the probation services as ‘an immature 18 or 19-year-old’.
Apart from a caution for an unrelated matter in 2024 you have no convictions on your record.
“There are a series of references speaking about your positive good character, your remorse and a change in your behaviour and you have demonstrated that for the past three-and-a-half years you can stay out of trouble and you want to return to university to complete the course you were on at the time.
But I make it plain that I am giving you a chance but if you don’t take it I know I will have made a mistake.” Katie Attenborough, prosecuting, said the offences took place when Kitenge, of Stowford Road, Oxford, and the victim were both studying at Nottingham Trent University.
She said the defendant sent the sexual images to the WhatsApp group but did not say how many people were part of it or would have seen them.
She said he also sent the woman the threatening message.
The defendant pleaded guilty to charges of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress and sending communication conveying a threatening message.
Oliver Woolhouse, mitigating, said: “This was a terrible mistake with terrible consequences for this young lady and for him.
But it should not be a mistake which defines his entire future and he hopes to return to the city to restart the course he was on at the time in September.” As part of the community order, Judge Coupland ordered Kitenge to attend 20 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service, to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and to pay £1,000 prosecution costs.
He also handed him a three-year restraining order not to contact the victim, her family, or go to the area where she now lives.
