A man from Swinton is the first in Greater Manchester to be jailed under new revenge porn laws after posting a sexually explicit image of his ex-girlfriend on Facebook.
Sean Pinkney, 44, of Dorning Road, was handed a 20-week sentence after pleading guilty of disclosing a private sexual photograph with intent to cause distress.
He was also given a three-year restraining order against the victim.
Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court heard that Pinkney posted a topless picture of his ex-girlfriend on Facebook. She is the mother of his five-year-old daughter.
The picture was calculated to cause the “utmost distress and humiliation” said Yvonne Tunnicliffe, the Deputy Head of the Magistrates Court Prosecutions unit.
The image was left online for around four hours.
Mr Pinkney’s defence lawyer Nnamdi Inegbu said his client had intended to remove the photograph, but once it was on Facebook it was shared by friends and got out of control.
Pinkney is the first person in Greater Manchester to be sentenced under the new legislation, which was introduced in April 2015.
It emerged in court that the victim only found out about the picture when she was picking her daughter up from school and one of the other mothers mentioned it to her.
Pinkney told police he had posted the image to Facebook because he believed his ex had sent explicit photos of herself to another man.
He added that he did not realise it was a criminal offence.
Under the new legislation offenders can be prosecuted for “disclosing private sexual photographs and films without the consent of an individual who appears in them with the intent to cause distress”.
The maximum sentence is up to two years in prison and a fine.
At sentencing Yvonne Tunnicliffe added: “The message is clear, the Crown Prosecution Service and police will do all within our powers to bring those who commit such despicable acts of revenge before the courts.
“The new specific offence of revenge pornography has only been in force since April, but awareness of these crimes is increasing.
“I hope today’s outcome will encourage other victims of these malicious crimes to report them to the police and to help us bring such offenders to justice.”
