A WOMAN who shared sexually explicit images of another woman while she was in the bath has narrowly avoided being sent to prison.

Nicola Adams posted three pictures and a video on her Snapchat account which were spotted by friends of the victim who alerted her to the incident.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 28-year-old also violently attacked the victim when she attempted to strangle her in her own bedroom and kicked her down the stairs.

Jemima Stephenson, prosecuting, said the victim had been left devastated by the defendant’s behaviour.

She said: "The defendant grabbed her by the throat, causing her to fall to the floor. Whilst she was on the floor she leaned over her and continued to strangle her with one hand.

"The woman managed to push the defendant off her and ran out of the room.

"The defendant ran after her and kicked her in the back when she was half-way down the stairs, causing her to fall down the stairs."

The court heard the vicitm sustained red marks on her neck and hand following the attack at the end of last year.

Miss Stephenson said the defendant posted the sexually explicit pictures and video on her Snapchat account, which were visible for 24 hours, in January.

In a victim personal statement, read out by Miss Stephenson, the woman said: “After she put the pictures on Snapchat, I feel embarrassed and violated. I feel hurt that somebody could do something so nasty – she has ruined me."

The court heard how the defendant had several convictions on her record, including ones for violence.

Adams, of Broadway East, Redcar, pleaded guilty to disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress and assault by beating when she appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court last month.

John Nixon, in mitigation, said his client has struggled with alcohol and drug issues.

"There has been no contact between the two parties in the five months since this incident took place," he said. "Can I also on behalf of my client indicate that she feels awful about what she did, she regretted it as soon as it happened."

Judge Recorder Alex Menary passed an eight month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered her to complete 30 rehabilitation days and nine months alcohol treatment.

He said: "It was plain that those images had been uploaded by you to Snapchat and had been seen and circulated because the victim had been contacted by various people saying they were online for 24 hours.

"It was in my judgement a wicked thing to do, to put these online so that anyone was able to see them. She was able to delete those images and I understand, realising the error of your ways, tried to do the same."

The judge also made her subject to a five year restraining order against the victim.