Naked Shower Video Publisher Must Remain Behind Bars

Dobla: Appeal

An accountant jailed for tricking a love rival into sending her a naked show video, which she posted online, will remain behind bars while she fights the sentence.

Convent-educated Blerina Dobla, 26, has lodged an appeal against the four-month jail term imposed a week ago, but was denied bail pending the outcome.

“I cannot predict what the outcome will be even though many such custodial sentences are suspended,” announced Inner London Crown Court Judge Freya Newbery.

Dobla, of Melliss Avenue, Richmond-upon-Thames is currently incarcerated at HMP Bronzefield and her full appeal hearing is scheduled for the end of next week.

“One of my concerns is that if I release her on bail there is the additional anxiety of being readmitted to custody after her release,” added the judge.

“I am not prepared to grant bail. She will remain in custody until the appeal is heard next Friday.”

Dobla adopted the fake identity of a male model during internet exchanges with her ex’s new 23 year-old girlfriend and persuaded her to send revealing pictures and videos.

She then published them online and deliberately tagged her friends and family in the embarrassing Instagram posts.

Judge Newbery noted the probation service had compiled a supportive report regarding Dobla, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dobla pleaded guilty to sending a communication of an indecent or offensive nature on January 30, 2017, namely an Instagram video of the victim naked in the shower.

She also admitted a similar charge of sending the same shower video to the victims’ friends and family via Instagram on November 1, 2017, plus additional images of the young woman in various states of undress.

The victim was persuaded to send them via Snapchat, believing the material would be only visible for a few seconds and could not be saved by the recipient.

In a lengthy victim impact statement the victim said: “I am a shell of the person I once was. This has taken a toll on my physical and mental health with attacks of anxiety and depression.

“All of my hard work was knocked down for someone’s entertainment, publicly displaying images without my consent has been like torture to humiliate me.”

When he jailed Dobla last week District Judge Karim Ezzat said: “Her behaviour was well-planned and manipulative over a period of months during which she bullied and coerced these images and published them.

“The impact on the victim has been devastating and says this has ruined her life.” 

Dobla, who attended the Catholic Gumley House Convent School - moto ‘Vive Ut Vivas’ (live that you may live) - founded in 1841 was also made subject to a five-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.