A MARRIED man sent naked photographs of a woman he had been having an affair with to her friends and family after discovering she had been cheating on him, a court was told today (Wednesday, January 28).

Kevin Howlett, 40, who sent the compromising images "in revenge" appeared before magistrates accused of hacking her contacts list.

Paula Sanderson, prosecuting, said the victim had moved to Darlington from Nottingham, after meeting Howlett on Facebook.

After initially staying in shared accommodation she moved in with Howlett and his wife and their two children. The victim and Howlett continued their affair while they all lived together in Darlington.

Ms Sanderson said: “Following an incident the relationship between them ended and she packed her belongings, jumped on bus and returned home.

“She thought she wouldn’t put it past the defendant to send photographs that displayed her naked to her family and friends – and that is effectively what has happened.

“She said that she felt mortified that they, as well as work colleagues, had seen the photographs of her. “

Clive Booth, mitigating, told Peterlee magistrates it was an “unusual offence with a strange background.”

He said: “I don’t believe there is anything prohibiting someone sending naked photos on their own phone.

“The reason the defendant was advised to plead guilty was that, on the phone he had lent her and which she had given back to him, he went into her phone contacts without her authority.”

“By doing so, in my view, he breached the section in the Computer Misuse Act.”

The images were taken by Howlett with the victim's consent.

Things came to a head and “unravelled” when Howlett decided to tell his wife about what had been happening, whereupon his wife revealed the victim had been having a series of affairs behind his back.

Mr Booth said: “He felt he had been betrayed and in order to get his revenge he went into the phone and her found her contacts (on a SIM card the victim had left in the phone).”

He added, Howlett was “very ashamed” of his actions.

Howlett of Brook Terrace, Darlington, pleaded guilty to breaching the Computer Misuse Act. The case was adjourned to February 18 for sentencing.