A man who posted “revenge porn” images of his wife online when he discovered she was having an affair has avoided a jail sentence after a court hearing in Nottingham.
The jilted husband, David Honeybell, also admitted to burning a pile of spouse Sarah’s clothes and threatened to send naked pictures of her to her employer.
New laws introduced in spring mean people found guilty of “disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress” face a maximum prison sentence of up to two years.
But Honeybell, 49, walked free from Nottingham Magistrates’ Court after he pleaded guilty to a lesser offence of harassment, as well as arson.
The court heard how Honeybell was “upset and sorry” for his actions after his 23-year marriage broke down.
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He posted intimate images of his wife on Facebook and also put her wife’s clothes in a suitcase before setting it alight on 4 June.
She tried to put the fire out with a hosepipe but “irreparable damage” was caused, after which Honeybell was arrested.
Honeybell admitted harassing his wife by sending her 18 text messages and leaving six voicemails on 16 June.
Representing himself, he told the court: “I am sorry. I was upset that after 23 years of marriage my wife was having an affair.
“She tried to clear the air then all of a sudden I found out she was sending explicit messages and videos to someone else. I was not happy.”
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Honeybell was handed a 12-month community order and, after a request from Ms Honeybell, a restraining order. He told the court he accepted the marriage was now over.
Speaking to the Press Association after the hearing, Honeybell said of the “revenge porn”: “I can't justify it now, but when you think back on what I did, I should not have done it. It was impulse.
“I had been married 23 years, my wife had an affair, you find out and I was a bit p***** off. I was angry, you do things off the cuff and that's it.”
The Crown Prosecution Service has been asked to explain why Honeybell was not charged with a revenge porn offence, but has yet to comment.
Honeybell was ordered to pay a total of £325 in fines and costs.
