Telford man warned of jail after threatening to put explicit content of ex on internet

Craig Jones emotionally blackmailed his then partner into posing for pictures and had filmed her on some occasions without her knowledge.

He then started sending his ex-partner abusive messages on Facebook after she started a new relationship more than a year after she and Jones had split up. He threatened to publish the explicit material online and then did, causing his ex-girlfriend embarrassment and affecting her career, Telford Magistrates Court was told.

Jones, 24, admitted a charge of harassment and was told he was likely to be sent to prison.

Mrs Kate Price, prosecuting, said Jones had been in a relationship with his girlfriend for three years before they separated in the summer of 2012.

The court was told that their relationship was "turbulent" as Jones was "very controlling".

Mrs Price said the defendant took photos and videos of his girlfriend while they were having sex. She said that Jones, of Beech Road in Madeley, Telford, would emotionally blackmail her into posing for him and on other occasions filmed her without her knowledge.

When the victim began a new relationship in October 2013 Jones began to send her abusive messages on Facebook and threatened to post pictures of her online, a threat he then followed through with, said Mrs Price.

The pictures caused the victim great distress and financial loss as she had not felt confident to maintain a senior position at her work as a result of their publication, said Mrs Price.

This first offence led to a caution in 2014 when Jones was ordered to deleted all the images of the victim that he owned.

But late last year another image of the victim's breast appeared online and followed by more photos and a video of them having sex, which were posted earlier this year.

Mrs Price said the victim called the police and when officers arrived at Jones's house he responded: "I've been waiting for you. They're on my old phone."

Mr John McMillan, for Jones, said that the defendant had believed he had deleted all the images, but after finding photos on an old phone had decided to swap them with another person online. Mr McMillan said that the other person had then published the photos online but added that the defendant accepted responsibility.

He added that as an alternative to prison, Jones could be subjected to supervision by the probation service for "reprogramming his thought processes".

District Judge Nigel Cadbury said: "This was a despicable offence and had very serious consequences for the victim. You (Jones) must have no illusions that the likelihood is a prison sentence."

The case was adjourned for the preparation of a report and Jones will be sentenced at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court on March 3.