Mildenhall man posted partner’s ‘naked selfies’ online

A father-of-five who posted nude photographs of his former partner on a popular social networking site has been ordered to pay her compensation.

Robert John Powell, 42, of Scott Avenue, Mildenhall, pleaded guilty to sending grossly offensive, indecent or obscene images by public communication network at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Prosecuting, Ian Devine said Powell and his partner had continued living together after their eight-year relationship ended in October.

Mr Devine said Powell’s ex had been ‘incredibly embarrassed’ after a friend told her about her ‘naked selfies’ on Facebook, which were posted while she was sleeping.

Powell took the photos down after a friend told him ‘anybody could see them including his children’.

He told police he had accessed the photos through his ex-partner’s mobile phone and had posted them on Facebook in response to the fact he thought she had been having an affair, said Mr Devine.

In mitigation, Helen Korfanty said: “It’s been hinted that difficulties existed in this relationship. He was concerned she was having an affair with somebody else and sending family monies to them, so he foolishly lashed back emotionally by putting the photos she’d taken on Facebook.”

Ms Korfanty told the court no action was taken on the photos posted online until police were called to a separate incident around six weeks later ‘where she was assaulting him and threatening him with a knife’.

Powell was fined £150 and ordered to pay £100 in compensation, £85 towards court costs and a victim surcharge of £20.

He was also issued with a six month restraining order.