Ex-student jailed for using Facebook to torment teachers

ANTISOCIAL MEDIA: Jessica Ann-Marie Burling told police she was bored and tormenting the teachers was "something to do on Facebook".PHOTO/FILE

Ex-student targeted teachers by setting up fake profiles in their names

An ex-student jailed for tormenting two Rotorua teachers using Facebook is an example of a growing cyber-safety problem for teachers, according to the Rotorua Principals' Association president.

Jessica Ann-Marie Burling, 20, was sentenced in the Rotorua District Court on Thursday to one month in jail after she pleaded guilty to a charge of misusing a telecommunications device. She had previously admitted three other similar charges.

Burling had been setting up fake Facebook profiles in the names of two female teachers at her former school since October 2012. She used the profiles to make inappropriate and offensive comments and send friend requests. On October 31 this year, she posted a video of an associate singing a song mocking the appearance of one of the victims. Burling also made offensive comments about the young child of one of the women.

Burling appeared in court for the first time in April but the same day she reactivated an old fake profile of one of the victims.

Burling told police she was "bored and it was something to do on Facebook" and another time said she had done it as a joke.

The victims spent considerable time and effort explaining the situation to staff, students and parents, the summary said. One was also scared for the safety of her child.

Judge Chris McGuire asked Burling if she liked being in jail. "This lady you are targeting needs a break," he told her. "You have been tormenting this victim via Facebook. I need to stop you getting drunk and contacting these ladies and I've failed, haven't I."

He said the only way he could stop Burling was to lock her up.

He also ordered her not to contact the victims for a year and not to consume alcohol or drugs for six months after her release.

Rotorua Principals' Association president Linda Woon said staying safe online was the main topic of discussion at the association's meeting this week.

She said cyber-safety was a growing issue for students, teachers and support staff. "It certainly worries principals to the extent we asked very busy principals to come and talk about it [this week]," she said.

Mrs Woon said teachers were held to high standards and as such were vulnerable.

"They could be doing something in a perfectly innocent context, even dressing up for Halloween, and photos [can be] used in the wrong context," she said. "We have to talk to our staff about their personal safety and being very careful what things are shared online from their private lives."

She said the Burling case was not a one-off situation and such instances were devastating for teachers involved.

Mrs Woon said the Harmful Communications Bill, introduced to Parliament this week, should help better manage cyber-bullying.

"We're looking forward to the new law next year, it will give us more options," she said. "Facebook is not particularly swift in addressing issues. The police also have difficulties in managing it."

Proposals in the bill include making it an offence to send messages and post material online with intent to cause harm, allowing people to take serious complaints to the District Court and providing a legislative mechanism to quickly remove harmful content from websites.