In one of the strangest legal battles to hit the UK, a 25-year-old woman from South Wales has made history—and not in a good way. Rhiannon Evans, a shop worker from Caernarfon, has been convicted of harassment after repeatedly sending videos of herself farting to her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend.
Welcome to what is now being dubbed Britain’s first-ever “cyber-farting” trial, a case that has sparked debates over digital harassment in the modern age.
According to prosecutors, Evans bombarded her boyfriend’s former partner, Deborah Prytherch, with a series of WhatsApp messages described as “grossly offensive.” The messages, sent over the holiday season, featured Evans gleefully breaking wind directly into the camera—sometimes with a smile, sometimes with apparent glee.
Prosecutor Diane Williams painted an unusual picture in court:
“She proceeds to pass gas by placing the camera on her bottom and passing the gas.”
The festive fart-fest kicked off just before Christmas, ramping up on December 22 with three more videos and continuing into Boxing Day and even New Year’s Day.
For Prytherch, the ordeal was anything but funny. In court, she stated that the relentless barrage of “toots” left her feeling unsafe in her own home. The situation escalated to the point where she sought legal intervention, claiming the messages were causing her serious distress.
When confronted by authorities, Evans admitted to the act but dismissed the charges as overblown.
“I never thought farting would land me in court. I think the sentence is a bit excessive and dramatic. We are living in a very ‘snowflake’ generation,”
She told reporters outside the courthouse.
Her lawyer, Harriet Gorst, argued that Evans’ actions were fueled by alcohol and poor judgment rather than malice.
“At the time she sent these videos, she had some drinks and didn’t fully grasp the consequences,”
Gorst explained.
The judge clarified that online harassment, no matter how unusual, would not be tolerated.
“This is not a joke,”
The court stated.
“Your actions caused distress, and that is what matters.”
Evans received a 12-month community order and a two-year restraining order preventing her from contacting Prytherch. Additionally, she was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation sessions, abstain from alcohol for 60 days, and pay approximately £300 in compensation and court costs.
As bizarre as the case sounds, legal experts warn that it signals a growing trend in digital harassment. With social media, messaging apps, and now even “cyber-farting” being weaponized for intimidation, the legal system is scrambling to keep up with new-age misconduct.
“This case might sound absurd, but it underscores a bigger issue in online behavior,”
Says Dr. Olivia Carter, a cyber harassment expert.
“What starts as a joke can quickly turn into targeted harassment, and courts are beginning to take these cases more seriously.”
With this ruling, the legal system has made one thing clear: even the pettiest of digital spats can have real-world consequences. So next time you think about using flatulence as a form of cyber warfare, you might want to think twice—or at least check your privacy settings.