A SCHEMING mum has avoided jail for sending a video of her ex-lover taking a shower to his wife.
Former university student Melissa Thomas, 24, sent the 13-second film via Whatsapp with the message: ''When you phone social services, why don't you show them what your husband sent me. Good luck, you'll need it when I'm finished."
Earlier her ex, 63, also received the clip with the message: "I just found this video on Facebook with your name and contact attached you perv. How can you threaten a young boy? Is your wife committing benefit fraud?'"
Fearing the footage was being circulated on the internet, he showed the messages and the footage to his wife and she went to police to report Thomas.
The incidents occurred after Thomas' ex began a legal battle to prove he was the father of their love child.
At the time the man had patched up his marriage with his wife after she had earlier left him over his affair with Thomas.
He had wanted to see the child and was planning to go to court to get DNA testing after issues over access.
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Police say they have been unable to establish who sent the message to the husband.
A district judge said that she had been spared jail because she was the main carer for their young son.
She was handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence and she was ordered to pay just £100 compensation to the victim's wife, who was sent the video.
District Judge John Temperley said: "Miss Thomas, in your favour are the following factors.
"Your early guilty plea, the remorse you have shown for this case and significantly the fact that this video did not go any further than the wife.
"Had that been the case it would have had a much more serious effect than it has.
"Nevertheless people still go to prison for these kind of offences.
"However, you are the sole carer of your son and if you were to lose your liberty he would suffer."
He ordered her to pay £100 compensation as well as a victim surcharge of £115 and court costs of £85.
In a statement read the court the man - a father of two - said: ''I'm disgusted that a person could act in this way. I have done everything I can to see my son, I pay child support I have taken him on holiday and this is what I get in return. I no longer wish to be in contact with Melissa and will sort out contact through the courts."
She had initially falsely accused the victim of assaulting her then was said to have created a Facebook page in his name so she could post abusive messages to her own account - and pretend they came from him.
As a result of the lies, the man was arrested four times wrongly charged with common assault and spent a total of 30 hours in a police cell before police found evidence which backed up his denials. In March 2013 Thomas was given a two year suspended prison term.
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