BREAKING: Eastbourne man admits posting '˜grossly offensive' photos of a woman on pornographic site

Oliver Whiting, 37, unemployed, of Langdale Close, Eastbourne, appeared at Hastings Magistrates Court on Wednesday (March 29) where he admitted six offences of posting grossly on-line offensive images and comments about a woman, and five offences of posting such messages on-line to another woman, all on a website during 2015 and 2016 and all contrary to the Communications Act 2003.

The court adjourned the case for reports, prior to sentencing on April 4 – police said.

The prosecution resulted from an investigation by Eastbourne detectives which began following decisions to issue formal police cautions in April 2016 over website postings relating to four other women, and following the receipt of further information at the same time, said officers.

Whiting was arrested in August and has been on police bail since while the investigation has continued.

Police said the cautions still stand and the four women who were victims of the offences do not include the two women referred to in the charges in relation to which Whiting has now pleaded guilty.

Detective Chief Superintendent Nick May said, “The conviction of Oliver Whiting today will I hope bring some satisfaction to the young women who became his victims. This has been a very distressing period in their lives.

“What Whiting did had a dramatic and negative impact on the lives of the victims.

“I pay tribute to the women who involved the media after the police had originally cautioned Whiting for offences.

“Whilst it was not always comfortable for us, they did highlight the need for society and police to understand the impact that such incidents can have on the victims.

“Whilst such injury is not physical, it is nevertheless extremely impactive and I think they did victims everywhere a service.

“I am also grateful to several of the women who helped us in producing a training video for our officers, to help Sussex Police improve the service we offer in such cases.”