The first woman believed to have been convicted under the so called revenge porn law has avoided jail time.

Paige Mitchell was given a six-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court yesterday for posting explicit photos of a woman on Facebook in May.

The 24-year-old was also given a two-week prison sentence to run concurrently for assaulting her earlier the same day.

The crimes happened after she had an argument with the victim. Mitchell then attacked the woman before she posted explicit photos of her on Facebook. She also wrote humiliating insults and even referenced the assault in captions she added to the photos.

She pleaded guilty to both offences at an earlier hearing in August but magistrates had to wait for a pre-sentence report to be prepared before they could sentence her.

It is believed that Mitchell, of Shephall Way, is the first woman to be convicted under the so-called revenge porn law which came into force in April and makes it illegal to publish explicit photos or videos of someone without their consent.

Joanna Coleman, deputy chief crown prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service in Thames and Chiltern, said: “These vengeful crimes are predominantly thought of as being carried out by men. This sentencing will highlight that anyone can be guilty of this offence and regardless of the defendant’s gender, once reported, it will be taken seriously.

“Crimes where an intimate image of an individual is shared without their permission in such a public forum is invasive, humiliating and distressing for the victim and leaves them feeling violated.

“It can have a huge impact on the victim and I am pleased that more people are having the confidence to come forward and report these crimes.”

Mitchell must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 50 days and pay £345 in court costs and fines.