A 28-YEAR-OLD man threatened to ‘ruin’ a woman’s life if she phoned the police to report an assault.

Blackburn magistrates heard that a few hours later he posted a picture on the internet of her performing a sex act on him.

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The court was told the photograph was only available for a couple of hours and only two people had seen it but it still amounted to revenge pornography.

Kyle Andrew Linnane, of Manor Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to disclosing a private sexual photograph and assaulting the female.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 25-day rehabilitation requirement and 160 hours’ unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £200 compensation, £85 victim surcharge and £50 costs and made subject to a restraining order which prohibits him from having any contact, approaching her home or displaying or publishing any image of her without her prior consent.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the couple had been out for a drink and an argument started. He was shouting in her face and when she pushed him away he grabbed her by the hair and swung her into a wall.

“He pushed her to the floor and she was scared what he might to next,” said Miss Allan.

“She thought he had gone but as she was on the phone to the police he came back and made the comment about ruining her life.”

Later that day the woman noticed Linnane had changed his Whatsapp profile and published a photograph of her performing a sex act.

“Clearly that would cause distress and embarrassment,” said Miss Allan.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had no idea that posting the photograph would bring him before the court.

“It was a photograph she knew was in his phone,” said Mr Price.

“He accepts he made his Whatsapp profile picture that image but he says it was there for no more than a couple of hours.

“When one of his friends commented he realised it was wrong and took it down. It seems that only two people viewed the image online.”