Former gay-for-pay actor and reality star found guilty in revenge porn case
A former gay porn actor and reality TV star has been found guilty of revenge porn.
Kurtis Hartman, 22, was handed a suspended sentence and ordered to carry out community service after he was found guilty of posting a nude photo of his ex on Twitter, reports the Daily Star.
The incident took place in March this year.
Hartman, who was previously a porn actor for gay subscription site English Lads, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Speaking before his sentencing, prosecutor Sabrina Farhan said: “The defendant and the complainant were having an argument on Twitter.
“During the course of that argument the defendant sent a text message to the complainant threatening that unless she deleted those tweets the next tweet he would post will ruin her.”
One of Hartman’s messages to his ex was then read out in court.
He had written: “What you on about drug dealer? I would delete that tweet if I were you or the next tweet will ruin you,” before adding: “Bitch don’t talk about me like you know me, you are a fan.”
Hartman then posted a picture of the unnamed victim naked, with her face clearly visible, on his Twitter account.
The photo remained online for two hours before it was removed.
Farhan added: “Both the complainant and the defendant are in the public eye and the complainant has a large group of children who follow her on Twitter.”
On the day of his sentencing, Hartman posted a photo of himself outside court with the caption: “I like to smile at people that don’t like me .”
Hartman, who has starred on reality TV show Ex on the Beach, was charged by the Metropolitan Police with one count of disclosing private sexual photos with intent to cause distress in March.
He denied the charge against him, telling Metro after the sentencing: “Although I still protest my innocence in this case, I do feel sympathetic for the events which took place. I’m now just looking forward to putting this chapter behind me and continuing with my TV and modelling work.”
Hartman added: “This is just a small blip that’s been blown out of proportion, there is much more on the horizon so you certainly haven’t seen the last of me.”
The reality star will now have to carry out a 16-week sentence, suspended for 18 months, and 120 hours of unpaid community service.
He will also have to pay costs of £620 and a £115 fine to the victim.
Hartman has been open about his X-rated past on English Lads, telling the Daily Star that he is “100 percent heterosexual” and that he did the porn acting for cash.
“It is on a gay site but for me it was the money that attracted me,” he told the newspaper.
“What is done with material doesn’t bother me, I am comfortable enough with my sexuality and my life to accept that.”
His porn star name on the site was Justin McGregor. The website shows the actor posing in several raunchy shots, as well as videos of him masturbating.
