A MAN who posted a 'revenge porn' image of an ex-girlfriend on her Facebook page after discovering she had cheated on him has been ordered to complete hours of unpaid work.

Simon Peckham, 54, confessed he had posted an image of her semi-naked with another man on social media. However, he denied he had any intention to cause her distress, and claimed his motive was simply to show her he had discovered the image on her mobile phone while she slept.

Peckham, of Christchurch Road in Bournemouth, was convicted of disclosing a private sexual photograph with intent to cause distress following a trial held at Poole Magistrates' Court in July.

A sentencing hearing was adjourned for reports.

On August 13, the defendant returned to the court. He was sentenced to a 12 month community order, under which he must complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £150 compensation, an £85 surcharge and £650 costs and made the subject of a two-year restraining order.

During the trial, it was heard that Peckham had found the images while the victim was asleep.

Asked why he had failed to question her about the photos directly, he replied: “I didn’t want to wake her up.

"I was so upset my first thought was to let her know I had seen that photo. I didn’t want to make her shout at me. I didn’t want there to be an argument.”

He admitted: “I wasn’t thinking about how she would react, the only thing I was thinking about was me.”