A 32-year-old man disclosed intimate sexual photos of the private parts of a woman suffering from herpes.

Badr Laabichi walked free after he appeared before Judge Nicolas Cartwright at Worcester Crown Court yesterday. The defendant, pictured here holding a copy of his restraining order, could not be jailed because of time already spent in custody and a qualifying electronically monitored curfew.

However, his behaviour was branded 'appalling' by Judge Cartwright, one of the city's main judges.

The defendant, then living in north Worcestershire, admitted disclosing a sexual photo of the victim in March 2016 and common assault on June 18, 2017, grabbing a woman by the throat in the presence of a witness and leaving red marks.

His admissions came on what would have been the first day of trial which meant a complainant had to come to court with the expectation she would have to give evidence before a Worcester jury.

The defendant disclosed to another photos 'showing symptoms of that infection' said Simon Phillips, prosecuting. "It came as a shock to him, when out of the blue, he received the messages and the photographs from the defendant" said Mr Phillips of the recipient.

The prosecutor read out two victim personal statements from the victim. In one she said: "It's haunted me for the past two years. I'm still embarrassed and degraded by the whole matter." Mr Phillips said: "It's clear some distress was caused to the victim." One message from the defendant, read by Mr Phillips, said: "I'm going to ruin your life."

At the time of the offences he had no previous convictions but has since been convicted of obstructing a constable.

Laabichi had spent 248 days on a qualifying curfew - half of which (124 days) - would count towards any custodial sentence Judge Cartwright was able to impose. His advocate also told the court the defendant had spent two weeks in custody before being granted bail.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright accepted that the offence was only created one year before he sent the 'private, embarrassing, intimate images'. But he added: "What is beyond doubt is that you behaved appallingly."

He said anyone who realised such an image of themselves had been sent to anyone else would be 'horrified'. The judge told Laabichi that the time he had spent on curfew and remand would 'entirely swallow up any prison sentence I was able to pass under the law and the sentencing guidelines'.

Judge Cartwright, who made an order protecting the victim's anonymity, imposed a 30 month community order with one requirement - for Laabichi to complete 30 sessions of a programme designed to address his behaviour.

The judge also imposed a restraining order for three years preventing Laabichi, whose immigration status was said to be under review, from having any contact directly or indirectly or by any means whatsoever with the complainant. He also ordered Laabichi, now of Underwood Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, to pay her £400 in compensation. No order was made for costs. Notification requirements do not apply to the offence.

He must pay a victim surcharge which will be calculated administratively.