A YOUNG woman appeared in court today to plead guilty to harassment in the first case of its kind – after sending videos of herself farting.
Rhiannon Evans, 25, was hauled before magistrates for causing “distress or anxiety” to her boyfriend’s ex-partner, Deborah Prytherch.
In Britain’s first ever cyber-farting case, Evans bombarded her with several “inappropriate” videos of herself passing wind that were “indecent or grossly offensive”.
Prosecutor Diane Williams told magistrates at Caernarfon, north Wales, that in the first video message: “She proceeds to pass gas by placing the camera on her bottom and passing the gas.”
On December 22, there were three more videos of her letting rip.
Ms Williams said that over the course of the next few days, another four were sent of the same nature, showing “Miss Evans passing wind, her face smiling at the camera”.
Her tooting continued on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, despite police getting wind of what had happened.
Ms Prytherch’s victim statement, read to the court, said: “I would like to feel safe in my home.”
When Evans was arrested at her home in Caernarfon, she admitted she had sent the videos.
The prosecutor added: “She suggested she wanted to send videos because she felt her partner was being treated unfairly.
“It was purely malicious. She was smirking throughout, found it hilarious but the victim didn’t.”
Shop worker Evans was originally charged with malicious communications.
Harriet Gorst, defending, said :”There are some issues going on between Miss Evans’s partner and his ex-partner with regard to child contact.”
The lawyer said: “At the time she sent these videos she had some drinks and she sent them, understanding now this has caused the victim some distress.”
Evans was handed a 12-month community order, and defended her actions to The Sun, branding the case against her “petty”.
She said: “I never thought farting would land me in court. I think the sentence is a bit excessive and dramatic.
“We are living in a very ‘snowflake’ generation.
“I sent the messages on WhatsApp. I do have regrets, but I wouldn’t have thought I would be here for something like this, to be honest. It’s petty.
“I’ve learned my lesson.”
Evans, who was said to have mental health problems, was also handed 15 rehabilitation sessions, 60 days alcohol abstinence monitoring and a two-year restraining order.
She must pay £100 compensation and £199 costs.
A probation officer said she had been in a relationship for two years and there was “bad blood” with her boyfriend’s ex-partner.
She hadn’t thought sending the videos was a criminal offence and the defendant questioned why she hadn’t been “blocked”, the court heard.
