An underage boy who shared a nude photo of a girl of the same age via his mobile phone has had his mobile phone confiscated by the Borgarting Court of Appeal.
This is the first instance of its kind in Norway, where someone under the age of 15 has had his mobile phone confiscated, according to the prosecutor Stein Vale, Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reports.
The boy was sent a picture of the girl by a friend and shared it with two friends. He also stored it on his cell phone. When the girl asked him to delete it, he demanded money from her.
The case was reported to the police, and the police wanted to confiscate the boy’s mobile phone but lost in the district court. The Borgarting Court of Appeal came to the opposite conclusion and, in its verdict, pointed out that society has few instruments available when minors commit such offenses.
A preventive effect
Therefore, the Court of Appeal believes that confiscation of the phone can have a general preventive effect and believes it is aggravating that the boy wanted money to delete the picture.
Vale believes the verdict is important in principle and sends a clear signal to minors.
“If you use your mobile phone to spread sexualized images of children, you risk having your mobile phone confiscated,” he warned.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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This was blackmail for money and should (also) be treated as a serious felony.
Good to see the higher court impose much (and *obviously*) better judgment.