Man sentenced for posting intimate photograph of ex-girlfriend on Facebook

Jamie Bentley (33), of Hounsfield Crescent, East Herringthorpe, uploaded a picture of his ex-girlfriend in her underwear to Facebook without her permission.

He was sentenced at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (below leaving the hearing) after admitting at an earlier hearing to disclosing a private sexual photograph with intent to cause distress and sending a communication of an indecent or offensive nature.

Mr Mark Hughes, prosecuting, said Bentley had sent threatening text messages to his ex-partner in February after a “falling out”, adding: “It was an exchange where he threatened to burn the victim’s house down and to harm himself.”

Bentley also posted an intimate photo of his former partner to social media and asked for other users to comment.

His victim found out from her relatives about the social media post and called the police.

When he was arrested, Bentley admitted the offences but told police he would not have carried out the threats.

“He acknowledged he had posted the image but said he had taken it down some time after — but of course after the damage had been done,” said Mr Hughes.

District Judge for Sheffield, Ms Naomi Redhouse, told Bentley: “The threats you made were very serious.

“I appreciate you were threatening to harm yourself as well, but of course those things were very frightening and serious things to do.

“For the last quite a few years your life has been much more stable.

“Things at the end of this relationship had caused things to really go off the rails — you accept that and you accept responsibility.”

Ms Redhouse handed Bentley a 12-month community order, which included a 25- day rehabilitation activity requirement, and ordered him to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim, £85 costs and was banned from contacting his victim for 12 months through a restraining order.