A 39-year-old man has made legal history in England and Wales by being the first to be convicted of cyber-flashing. This occurred after he sent unsolicited images of his genitals to a 15-year-old girl. Nicholas Hawkes, on February 9, sent such images to the girl and another woman, leading to his report to Essex Police by the latter via WhatsApp screenshots.
Hawkes confessed to two charges of causing distress by sending such explicit content during his appearance at Southend Magistrates’ Court.
He was found guilty during Monday’s trial and will remain in custody until sentencing on March 11 at Basildon Crown Court. Sefer Mani of CPS East of England emphasized the seriousness of cyber-flashing, commending the swift legal action taken to protect the victims and asserting the importance of reporting such offenses to ensure safety and anonymity.
Hawkes, already a registered sex offender until November 2033 due to previous convictions, faces additional charges for breaching his order. Cyber-flashing, defined as the unsolicited transmission of sexually explicit images via social media, was criminalized on January 31 under the Online Safety Act.