Matthew Lloyd Sharp sentenced for distributing naked photos of his ex-girlfriend

A Nambour man has been handed a hefty fine after “disgraceful, scandalous and despicable” behaviour with his ex-girlfriend’s naked photos.

An unknown number of people could have seen and downloaded naked photos of a 19-year-old woman after a Nambour pool builder’s despicable behaviour posting the photos to social media.

Matthew Lloyd Sharp was fined $2500 in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to distributing intimate photos between January 1 and April 7.

Police prosecutor Lee Allan said the 28-year-old posted full frontal naked photos of his ex-girlfriend on Reddit after she had sent them to him while they were dating four years ago.

The woman’s face could be seen in the photos.

She only became aware of the intimate images after an unknown person contacted her.

Senior Constable Allan said a maximum penalty of three years in prison applied for the offence, but suggested a significant period of community service as an appropriate punishment.

“It was disgraceful and scandalous and despicable,” he said.

“It was a significant breach of trust that was substantially aggravated by the way the … (Sharp) posted the images and the ability for others to further upload or save the content.”

Mr Allan asked for a conviction to be recorded.

Unrepresented Sharp said he was very remorseful for his actions.

“It was one silly decision I made one night possibly while under the influence of alcohol (and) it has ruined a long-term relationship I was in and alienated some of my friends and some of my family,” he said.

Sharp asked for no conviction to be recorded and said community service would be hard for him to complete while working six days a week.

“I would prefer a large fine if it is achievable,” he said.

The court heard Sharp had no criminal history.

Magistrate Christopher Callaghan said Sharp couldn’t use the fact that he was intoxicated as a defence.

“You’ve obviously caused … embarrassment, humiliation and distress to this poor woman and she doesn't know how many people have seen those images and it’s all because of you,” he said

“She was a very young woman (19 years old) when she sent you those images, she trusted you and you breached that trust by posting them.”

Mr Callaghan said prison was a last resort and ordered Sharp to pay the significant fine.

The woman will be paid $1250 of the fine amount.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Matthew Lloyd Sharp sentenced for distributing naked photos of his ex-girlfriend