A legal highs addict who Facebook messaged a picture of his private parts to his father’s ex-girlfriend has been jailed.
Graham Martin had been drinking and hoped the rude posting would be taken in a “jocular” way by the recipient, but the 29-year-old told police he fully understood it had caused offence when they arrested him over the matter.
Martin, of North Grimsby, Arbroath, appeared from custody before Sheriff Pino Di Emidio at Forfar where he admitted a string of offences including a breach of the telecommunications act in relation to the Facebook incident and breaching bail.
Depute fiscal Jim Eodanable said the internet posting happened on September 13 when the victim was at home with friends and her phone flashed up a social media notification.
“She looked at it and what she saw was clearly a photo of a man holding his penis in his hand,” the court was told.
“She was shocked and troubled by this and the message was traced back to the accused.”
In another incident on October 19 last year, Mr Eodanable said Martin was involved in a relationship with a woman and he asked her for money, but when she refused he became angry and after threatening her with violence threw a mug at a wall.
“He had been previously ordered to be off good behaviour but that has not happened,” said Mr Eodanable.
Defence solicitor Norman Fraser said his client was due to complete a 100-day prison sentence early next week, which had effectively been imposed at his own request.
“He is no stranger to the system and the position is that he became mixed up with these legal highs, which were having an additional impact on the other things going on in his life,” he added.
“He tells me that the time he has spent in Perth prison has been salutary to him and he is very keen not to have a further custodial sentence imposed on him.”
The solicitor said the Facebook message was not intended to offend the recipient.
“Drink had been taken and it was meant in a jocular way but he recognises that it would have been offensive to the woman.
Mr Fraser said Martin was keen to get out of prison and take up a tenancy in Arbroath.
Sheriff Di Emidio said Martin’s social work report did not make “helpful reading” in relation to the charges he faced.
He jailed Martin for a total of four months.