A REVENGE porn offender posted an intimate photo of an ex-girlfriend on Facebook — then 'laughed' at his distressed victim after she pleaded with him to take it down.

Barry Sorrell uploaded the image to the social media platform following an acrimonious break-up, Greenock Sheriff Court was told.

Sorrell, 30 — who battered a previous partner to her severe injury — is today beginning a prison sentence and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.

The Gourock man's face reddened and he appeared to be close to tears as the realisation that he was about to be locked up began to sink in.

Sheriff Thomas Ward told Sorrell: "I can't think of anything much worse than what you did. People who do what you did deserve to go to jail."

The court heard how Sorrell had deliberately made the picture available to a 'large number of people' after his two-year relationship with the woman came to an end.

Prosecutor Frankie Morgan said: "During the course of the relationship the accused took intimate photos of the complainer with her consent on the understanding and belief that they would never be disclosed to others.

"The complainer was on Facebook and a friend contacted her to alert her to one of the photos having been posted.

"She was understandably distressed and she sent a message to the accused asking him to remove it.

"He responded by laughing at her.

"The photo remained public for around 25 minutes."

The court was told that the victim, supported by her friend, went to Greenock police office to report Sorrell.

He was subsequently arrested and admitted to what he'd done.

Sorrell told officers: "I put it on my friend's post and then I deleted it."

Asked what his intention was, he replied: "I was drunk at the time, I was just trying to get a reaction out of her.

"She messaged me to delete it and I deleted it straight away."

Sorrell was convicted in 2015 of assaulting another ex-partner to her severe injury but was spared jail for that matter and given 200 hours of unpaid work.

He committed the Facebook offence on October 7.

Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan said: "He had an online discussion with the complainer that went awry."

Sheriff Ward interjected: "He must have known this would cause enormous upset."

Mr Keenan replied: "He came to his senses when she contacted him.

"Mr Sorrell accepts that the relationship is well and truly over and he understands the dangers of drinking to excess."

Sorrell pleaded guilty to disclosing an intimate photograph with the intention of causing his victim fear, alarm or distress.

Sheriff Ward told him: "I can't imagine the distress you caused to the person in the photo, and I have little doubt that if she had not contacted you that the image would have have remained online for much longer.

"If it had, you would be getting a much longer sentence than the one you are going to get right now.

"You have a previous conviction for assault to severe injury in a domestic setting.

"Therefore in the circumstances I consider there is no other appropriate way of dealing with you other than by a period of imprisonment."

Sorrell, of Iona Crescent in Gourock, was sentenced to four months behind bars.

In addition to the seven-year Sex Offenders Register term, Sheriff Ward imposed a non-harassment order preventing Sorrell from approaching or contacting his victim, or attempting to do so, in any way for two years.