A BUILDER who twice posted an explicit picture of a reality TV star has avoided jail.

Connor Jones thought it would be funny to post an inappropriate picture of Colchester’s Ex on the Beach celebrity Aimee Kimber on Twitter.

But the 22-year-old, of Titania Close, Colchester, was not laughing when his victim reported him to police.

Jones was charged with one count of disclosing a private sexual photograph or film without consent and with the intention of causing distress.

He appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and admitted the offence, which took place between July 5 and October 5 last year.

He first posted the image following the announcement Miss Kimber would be appearing on the MTV show about singletons looking for love in a paradise resort and then again when the episode aired.

Jones has no connection with Miss Kimber but decided to find the image he remembered he had seen of her in 2012 when she was 17-years-old.

Ian Allen, prosecuting, said: “In 2016 Miss Kimber came to the attention of the general public because she was scheduled to appear on a TV programme going under the byline of Ex on the Beach.

“It seems Jones became aware of the publicity involved.”

He posted the image on Twitter on July 5. It was reported to the company and removed.

On October 4 the programme aired and the next morning Jones posted it again on his Twitter account.

Mr Allen said: “It is offensive to the general public to see what it shows and it is distressful to the victim.

“This is an incident she never gave consent would reach the pubic domain.

“She is not a porn star or anything approaching.”

Laura Austin, mitigating, told the court this was his first conviction and he deeply regretted what he had done.

She told the court: “He was in a group chat on WhatsApp and there was some discussion about who was going to post it and unfortunately it was the defendant who says ‘I will do it’.

“He said this was some very stupid and very immature banter between him and his friends and thereafter he decided to post it.

“The parties involved have never met, don’t know each other, and have never been involved in a relationship.

“The defendant now feels remorseful and feels extremely guilty.”

Chairman of the bench John Gilchrist said: “We have looked at this very carefully, there was a certain amount of very bad laddish behaviour on your behalf.

“It’s unacceptable. We believe there was an element of planning, it was on two occasions.”

Jones avoided jail but received a 12 month community order with 130 hours of unpaid work and fines and costs totalling £370.

Speaking afterwards Miss Kimber said: “I am glad this has finally come to an end after ongoing taunting and bullying for the last five years.

“Connor Jones deserved to be punished after treating me the way he did.

“I went through a lot of anxiety and depression due to the abuse I received.

“I am so glad he pleaded guilty and has been sentenced.

“I just hope people will see the severity of this and think before they post anything online which will cause distress and pain.

“I hope what has happened to me will raise awareness so that people going through similar situations will be brave enough to stop this type of bullying.”

She also warned young girls to be aware of who is taking pictures of what as she was drunk on the night the picture was originally taken and tricked into taking an illegal methamphetamine drug.

She said: “I hope young girls will read what has happened to me and hopefully they will be aware of the dangers of putting themselves in vulnerable situations.”

Essex Police is investing more money and resources looking into cyber crime.