Teen wins ban on nude pics

2006-03-14 08:50

Liela Magnus

Pretoria - The teenage daughter of a retired minister of religion in Mpumalanga obtained an interdict in Pretoria High Court against an 18-year-old youth after he'd spread photos of her that she had sent him via her cellphone.

The youth from Phalaborwa had previously had a relationship with a female friend of hers who attends the same school as she does in Groblersdal, although she hadn't known him previously.

At his insistence, she sent him three photos of herself in the nude: two of her exposed breasts and one of her genitals.

Court documents state that the boy sent her SMSes on a Tuesday in February this year, asking her personal questions which she answered.

Later she sent him a photo of her face, and he responded that she looked pretty and sexy.

She sent him the nude photos the same day.

"Boys have never been interested in me and I've never regarded myself as attractive to the opposite sex. I found it pleasant that a man suddenly paid me so much attention and complimented me," reads her statement.

Not strong enough to lay charge with police

The next day the youth forwarded the nude photos to his girlfriend (the teenage girl's female friend) via cellphone. He also sent the teenage girl a message to say he'd sent the photos to her friend. She immediately contacted her friend who confirmed she'd received the photos.

Court documents state that the teenage girl's mother, who lives in Gauteng, advised her to speak to the school's counsellor. The counsellor helped her get legal advice.

"My dad is a retired preacher and I grew up in a Christian home. I felt that I'd forsaken my parents and the Lord," reads her statement.

Her friend's statement reads that the youth had apparently told her he'd forwarded the photos to her because it seemed the girl acted badly towards her friend during a quarrel.

The teen lodged the application with her parents' help without informing the youth as she was scared he'd remove the photos or spread them to more people.

She said she wasn't emotionally strong enough to lay a charge with the police.

The court order forbids the youth from publishing any photographic material of the girl from his cellphone or any other electronic medium. The sheriff will also examine his cellphone and computer to ensure that all photos of the girl have been removed.

- Beeld