AN act of retribution by a domestic violence sufferer almost landed her behind bars for publicly identifying the victims of two sex offences.

Shortly after Catherine Dunn-Wilson’s partner was arrested for an alleged physical assault on her, in July, she made public his previous offending history, including sex assaults on underage girls, in 2009.

Durham Crown Court heard that posting it on a community group Facebook site under the heading ‘Nonce Alert’, it included a report of the case and a probation document listing his previous convictions.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said the offence summary included the names of both victims of the sex assaults, who, by law, should have life-long anonymity.

Mr Harley said, Dunn-Wilson was quickly made aware of her blunder by people posting comments, and she immediately de-activated her account, removing her posting from the site.

Her partner, who remained in custody, was told by police, and said he would have to move away from his home in Horden, in fear of reprisals.

Dunn-Wilson, 25, of Tenth Street, Horden, admitted sending a malicious communication.

Nicholas Rooke, mitigating, said she was unaware the names were on the document, and regretted her actions.

Passing a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, Recorder Ian Atherton ordered her to undergo 20 rehabilitation sessions with the Probation Service.

He accepted she had not meant to expose the victims’ names, “to public glare”.