A UNIVERSITY student who hacked a woman's e-mails and posted naked photos of her on her Facebook page has escaped a prison sentence.
William Wooles, 20, of The Close, in Great Dunmow, was studying at Leeds University when he hacked into the e-mails of a 20-year-old student in Manchester.
He then sent an e-mail saying he had found some "interesting" things on her account – and wanted to see more intimate images, Manchester Crown Court heard last Thursday.
The victim had previously sent private images to her then boyfriend but they remained in her sent items box.
Wooles, who did not know the victim, e-mailed her in May last year, threatening to publish the photos online if she did not send him intimate images.
A third e-mail from Wooles said: "Sorry, this could have been avoided if you just sent me what I asked for?" – but it appeared in her spam and she did not see it before it was too late.
The victim logged on to her Facebook account, which boasts 1,000 followers and to her horror, she saw a number of naked pictures of her posted on her profile page.
Wooles, who also targeted another woman, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two offences of blackmail and two offences of computer misuse.
He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, but suspended for two years, for the blackmail offences and one year, suspended for 12 months, for each computer misuse offence, all to run concurrently. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of community service, given a restraining order not to contact victims, a forfeiture order and destruction order for the laptop.
After discovering the images on her Facebook page the victim contacted Greater Manchester Police, who traced Wooles to Leeds University by his computer IP address. Officers arrested him in his halls of residence.
Detective Constable Ian Wrench said: "Wooles' offences of blackmail were a disgusting betrayal of two girls' most private intimate moments.
"We can all imagine the emotional damage, not to mention embarrassment, of having private images posted all over your Facebook page from loved ones and friends to see.
"Thankfully, the first victim had the bravery to not suffer in silence and come and speak to us. Without her courage Wooles might have been able to threaten more victims and continue this computer-aged blackmail.
"What this case does highlight is the need for careful consideration of people's online passwords. Wooles worked out people's passwords via information available to anyone on the internet.
"Everyone needs to be aware that security question answers are sometimes easily guessed and it is imperative that people use the highest standards of care when choosing passwords."
The Chronicle tried to speak to Wooles and his family, but they refused to comment.
