Man jailed for posting ex-lover’s nude photo on Facebook

AUCKLAND - A New Zealand man has been jailed for posting a nude photo of his ex-girlfriend on Facebook, a media report said Saturday.

Joshua Simon Ashby, a 20-year-old painter from Wellington, was sentenced to four months in prison by the Wellington District Court Friday after he pleaded guilty to charges of distributing indecent material, threatening to kill and stealing the woman’s clothes, the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) reported.

This is reportedly the first time someone has been jailed for a crime committed using internet social media, under the morality and decency section of the country’s laws.

Judge Andrew Becroft said the accused posted the photo in an “irresponsible drunken jealous rage” after his girlfriend broke up their five-month relationship.

He sent her two messages, saying: “I’m going to kill you” and “dead bitch” and then posted a naked photograph of her on her Facebook page. Ashby made the photograph publicly available and changed her password.

Facebook authorities shut down the woman’s account after 12 hours.

Ashby also stole two of the woman’s dresses and cut them up. After a drunken argument in October, Ashby reportedly assaulted her and broke her cellphone in half.