A POET famous for scribbling his verses on Swindon’s pavements admitted posting naked pictures of his one-time friend on her Facebook page.

Daniel Rowland posted a montage of the X-rated images – sent to him two years earlier – in December 2018 after becoming angered at a picture showing the woman, her son and new partner.

The 34-year-old, well known in Swindon as the Pavement Poet, believed posting the photograph was disrespectful to the woman’s former husband, with whom he was friends.

Swindon Crown Court heard Rowland had been sent a number of pictures by the woman in 2016 in which she was naked or in a state of undress.

Prosecuting, Colin Meeke said: “This came back to haunt her when in December of last year she posted a picture on Facebook of her partner and son and the defendant made comment on that.

“He seemed to take exception with the fact she had taken up with a new man.

“He thought she was not being a good parent.”

There followed a lengthy exchange between the pair. Finally, he wrote in the comments beneath the Facebook post: “You’ll never understand how much you’re damaging that little boy.”

Rowland added: “I have also got all the naked photographs you sent me so maybe don’t shout too loud.”

He then posted a montage of the naked pictures. The images were online for around 20 minutes before they were taken down, Mr Meeke said.

In a victim personal statement summarised by the prosecutor it was said “a number of people had made quite hurtful remarks having seen the photographs of her on Facebook”.

Interviewed by police, Rowland accepted he had published the photographs but had not intended to cause the woman any distress,

Rowland, of Kimbolton Close, Freshbrook, had been due to stand trial but on Monday – the day the trial was due to start - admitted disclosing a private sexual photograph with intent to cause distress.

Defending, Alistair Haggerty said his client felt he was responding to hurtful comments apparently made by the woman about his character. He had not realised what he was doing was wrong.

“He didn’t set out to cause distress at the outset but he recognises he did just that,” the barrister said.

“In a context he did post those images. He recognises it was a foolish decision to do that.”

Mr Haggerty added: “It was a foolish, impulsive act but nothing more sinister.”

Rowland had diagnosed himself with Asperger’s and autism, which it was said helped explain his actions.

The court heard Rowland had an itinerant lifestyle, making a modest living from his poetry. He claimed no benefits and currently had no steady income.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Peter Crabtree said: “There was an impulsive act here and at most this was intended to cause limited distress.”