Ex-girlfriend in US arrested under new revenge porn law

A jealous ex-girlfriend has become the first person in the US state of Virginia to be charged under new revenge porn laws.

Rachel Lynn Craig, 28, allegedly stole a photo of her ex-boyfriend's 22-year-old girlfriend from his phone and posted the nude photograph on Facebook, WVIR-TV reports.

Under the state's Unlawful Dissemination or Sale of Images of Another legislation police had to prove that Craig intended to harm her victim in order to charge her.

"That was one thing we really had to establish. What was the intent of Ms Craig for posting this," Waynesboro Police Sergeant Brian Edwards said.

"She considered the victim a romantic rival for this one individual's affections and she said that she did it out of anger."

Crimes of this type, which police say have been occurring for years, are now punishable by up to one year in jail and a US$2500 fine.

Source: WVIR-TV