A COMPUTER expert has been ordered to carry out unpaid work after using his father-in-law’s details to set up a Facebook account without his knowledge.

Timothy Guise, of Victoria Street, Barbourne, Worcester, was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work and told to pay £320 in compensation to Peter Derbyshire, having admitted harassment without violence at an earlier hearing at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The court was told that between November 24 and November 29 last year, Mr Derbyshire received more than 240 e-mails alleging he had subscribed to dating, sex and drinking websites.

He then received a quantity of mail and sales calls on his home landline.

Louise Mead, prosecuting, said Mr Derbyshire was later informed a Facebook account had been created in his name using his e-mail address, home address, telephone number and a photograph.

The account also included references to homosexuality, pictures of men kissing and a number of “insulting” updates.

Mr Derbyshire paid for a court order to be served on BT which showed the updates made from an iPhone at Guise’ address.

Officers attended and the 34-year-old made a “full and frank” confession.

Guise said his relationship with Mr Derbyshire had degraded due to “family difficulties”.

The IT consultant accepted his actions could have been distressing.

In a statement, Mr Derbyshire said he was upset his daughter, Guise’s wife, had been involved through her relationship with the defendant and said they were once close but they now had no contact.

The e-mail address used was at his work and Mr Derbyshire feared it could have an effect on his job.

Paul Stanley, defending, said Guise was the sole carer for his wife, who suffers from lupus, and his actions were a way of striking back at ongoing family difficulties.

“He’s 34-years-old, well educated and I don’t see he’s likely to darken the court room again,” said Mr Stanley.

Sentencing, district judge Bruce Morgan, said he found it disturbing the ease with which someone could set up online accounts.

“I don’t think anybody realised when the internet was set up that it would be a haven for criminal conduct,” he said.

“Clearly, it has become a free-for-all for the mean-minded.”

Mr Morgan also put in place a four-year restraining order prohibiting Guise from contact with Mr Derbyshire, including by any electronic means.