A LONG distance love affair turned sour before the couple had even met face-to-face.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mohammed Khan persuaded his ‘ex’ to show him her breasts online by threatening to disclose an explicit video she had sent him while they were in a relationship.

He ‘screen-shotted’ the breast images and eventually revealed them to the victim’s sister.

Khan, 22, of Willows Lane, Accrington, pleaded guilty to disclosing private photographs with intent to cause distress.

He was made subject to a community order for 18 months with 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge and made subject to a restraining order for 12 months.

Deputy District Judge Andrew Teate said Khan had breached his ex-partner’s trust in a significant way.

“You have lost your good character as a result,” said Deputy District Judge Teate. “I accept that your life has moved on and you have considerable regret and remorse.”

Steve Botell, prosecuting, said Khan and the victim had started an online relationship with the aggrieved through Snapchat.

“They became official partners and there were regular video calls but they never met in person,” said Mr Botell. “During the relationship she sent him an explicit video of herself.”

Mr Botell said after the relationship had ended Khan video called the victim through Instagram making threats regarding the explicit video.

“He requested that she show her breasts to him but she did not realise he was taking screen shots of that call,” said Mr Botell. “A short time after he sent 13 screen shots from this call to her sister.”

Zabair Afzal, defending, said at the time of the offences his client was “heartbroken” and didn’t know how to deal with situation.

“He reacted very badly and in an immature way,” said Mr Afzal. “He realises the impact this would have had on the person affected. He wants to apologise through me to the court, the victim and her family.”

Mr Afzal said his client now had a fiancé and was due to be married next year.

“This was an isolated incident, out of character for him, and he says he will never appear before the courts again,” he added.