Ex-girlfriend mounted ‘revenge porn’ campaign

By Gwyn Wright

A BATTERED mother got her own back for savage beatings she suffered at the hands of her abusive ex-boyfriend from Hyde by circulating nude pictures of him to his family during a ‘revenge porn’ campaign.

Shelby Gratty, 21, shared explicit videos of Teejay Etchells, of Barleycroft Road, to publicly embarrass him after she fell victim to jealousy fuelled attacks in which culminated in him leaving her with a broken nose and fractured cheekbone.

But police were alerted to the clips after relatives of Etchells, 23, were said to be “disgusted” by the content which was sent to them via social media. Inquiries revealed Gratty had also sent still images of Etchells exposing himself during private photos she took of him during their affair.

At Tameside Magistrates Court, Gratty admitted malicious communications, harassment, causing a public nuisance and criminal damage and was ordered to complete a 12-month community order.
Etchells is currently serving 33 months in jail for unlawfully wounding Gratty and is barred from contacting her for life under the terms of a restraining order.

The couple had been in an 18-month relationship, but it was said to be “volatile”.

Prosecutor Henry Blackshaw told an earlier hearing: “There was clear abuse and control by him towards her. He turned up at her address late in the evening and started banging and asking to be allowed in. She denied him access and then reluctantly let him into the building.

“An argument began and he became violent. He then left the address and then returned shortly after when he went through her mobile phone and accused her of cheating. He grabbed hold of her neck and choked her repeatedly.

“He punched her four or five times with his fists causing injuries to her face. She was left with an open wound on the left side of her nose which caused significant bleeding and obvious swelling.

“She eventually escaped from the address and went to the police. He followed her and threatened to damage her mobile phone if she did not return to the address. She continued and he then smashed her phone onto the floor.

“At around 6am a witness saw her at a bus stop injured and distressed asking for help. When she was taken to the police station, she banged on the windows asking for help saying she had been assaulted by her ex.

“She did not have her phone when she tried to call police and the defendant then turned up and shouted aggressively at the passer-by who was helping her and followed her back to her address.
“When she got there, he told her to take off her bloody clothes and get in the shower.

“Police went to her address with bodycams and the defendant answered the door. He was extremely aggressive as he was told he was being detained there. Police gained entry to the house and found the victim on the bed in the upstairs bedroom. Police asked her what happened but he became increasingly aggressive and denied the wide ranging allegations that were put to him at that stage.”

The court heard the explicit films of Etchells were circulated on social media in May last year.

Initially an indecent video of him was shared by Gratty on WhatsApp before she sent an image of Etchells exposing himself.

One of the relatives who was sent the pictures told police: “I am disgusted and I don’t think it’s appropriate sending me these videos. Shelby should understand this sort of behaviour is not acceptable.”

Another relative said: “It made me feel very weird. I don’t want to see these pictures and I don’t understand why she is doing it – her behaviour is concerning.’’

Etchells’ mother said: “Shelby was doing this on purpose as she wants to try and get back at my family because of the issues between her and Teejay. It is not acceptable for her to send videos and pictures of his penis.’’

The court heard Gratty also hounded the grandparents of one of her ex’s friends by organising unwanted visits from tradesmen and online takeaways to their home. The elderly couple said they received five unwanted deliveries every hour and were hounded simply because their grandson was a friend of Etchells.

Police also received several hoax 999 calls relating to the address which a woman falsely claimed to be held hostage and had been stabbed in the leg.

Gratty was issued with a 12-month restraining order and was told to be abide by an 8pm-8am curfew for 13 weeks. She was also ordered to pay a total of £450 in compensation.

During the hearing, magistrates imposed an order under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act banning publication of Gratty’s home address over claims her life was at a ‘risk’ from Etchells.

Her lawyer Sam Cochrane said in mitigation: “He is in custody and has been on remand for a significant amount of time and it is seriously dangerous for her if this man knows her address.

“She had been in a relationship with Teejay Etchells and that relationship started when she was heavily pregnant and the baby was not his child.

“She was subject to some very serious levels of domestic violence in that relationship such that he recently has been sentenced to a lengthy custodial sentence. She had the child during the relationship and although she has eventually managed to get out of that relationship her child was removed. She has now lost her baby who has been adopted.

“She is incredibly remorseful and entirely recognises she should not have taken her pain, hurt and anger out on other people. She is very sorry that that’s what she has done.”

Etchells had numerous precious convictions for violence towards previous partners. He received a conditional discharge for criminal damage in 2015 and battery in 2016 and in October 2017 he was convicted of causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm and distress. He was jailed for eight weeks in 2018 for battery and criminal damage and the following year was given seven weeks custody for common assault.

In 2016 he threatened to kill a previous girlfriend and vowed to throw acid in her face. He was jailed for his latest offences at Manchester Crown Court in September.