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Disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual images

s.33 Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 · Triable either way

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Sentencing framework

The guideline for this offence categorizes seriousness based on culpability and harm, with prescribed starting points and ranges reflecting various levels of distress caused to victims. Adjustments to sentences are permitted based on aggravating and mitigating factors, ensuring considerations like the domestic abuse context, vulnerability of victims, prior conduct, and personal circumstances of the offender.

Maximum sentence

2 years’ custody

Court

Triable either way

Offence range

Discharge – 1 year 6 months’ custody

Aggravating factors

  • ·Where the offence was committed in a domestic abuse context
  • ·Previous convictions
  • ·Offence committed while on bail
  • ·Offence motivated by hostility based on victim's characteristics
  • ·Impact of the offence on vulnerable individuals

Mitigating factors

  • ·No previous or irrelevant recent convictions
  • ·Offender took steps to limit circulation of images
  • ·Genuine remorse
  • ·Positive character or exemplary conduct
  • ·Serious medical condition requiring urgent treatment
  • ·Age and/or lack of maturity (applicable to those 18-25)
  • ·Sole or primary carer for dependent relatives

Sentencing range explorer

Select the culpability level and harm category to see the guideline's starting point and category range. This is an educational illustration of the published guideline — not a sentence calculation, and not legal advice. Courts apply the full step-by-step process, aggravating and mitigating factors, and the totality principle.

Culpability

Harm

Select a culpability level and a harm category above.

The sentencing process, step by step

  1. Step 1 — Determining the offence category
  2. Step 2 — Assessing culpability and harm
  3. Step 3 — Considering any factors which indicate a reduction
  4. Step 4 — Reduction for guilty pleas
  5. Step 5 — Totality principle
  6. Step 6 — Compensation and ancillary orders
  7. Step 7 — Reasons
  8. Step 8 — Consideration for time spent on bail

Guideline notes

  • This offence was repealed on 31 January 2024. The guideline remains available for sentencing of offences committed prior to 31 January 2024.

Always read the full guideline

This is a one-page summary. For any live case, sentencing exercise, or legal advice the authoritative source is the Sentencing Council's own definitive guideline — including the category bands, step-by-step sentencing approach, and all statutory factors not captured here.

Open the full guideline on sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Source: Sentencing Council · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-28. Not legal advice — see a regulated adviser for any live case.