A woman who stole photos of babies from Instagram and pretended they were her own sick or deceased children to solicit money has been banned from social media. Kati Ringer, 21, of Norwich, admitted two malicious communications offences at Norwich Magistrates' Court.
Ringer copied images from two unsuspecting mothers' accounts and reposted them as her own, claiming the babies were ill or had died, in an attempt to obtain donations. When confronted by the victims, she became abusive and threatening, including threats to rape and harm the children.
Prosecutor Jane Walker detailed how Ringer sent one victim a laughing face emoji and a message stating she had already raised £600 by posting that the child was dead. To another mother, she threatened to kidnap and rape her daughter after using images of her premature baby to solicit funds for supposed medical and funeral costs.
Ringer was traced by police via her IP address to her mother's home. She received a 30-week suspended jail sentence, a two-year criminal behaviour order banning her from social media, and was ordered to pay £225 costs. The order also prohibits her from passing off others' photos as her own or soliciting donations unless as a legitimate volunteer for a registered charity.
Defence lawyer Ian Fisher said Ringer pleaded guilty early and that life events had left her lacking empathy, describing her actions as something 'no normal, decent human being would do'.
