A man has been ordered to pay £165 for calling his ex-girlfriend an offensive name on Facebook, in one of the first cases of its kind.
Darren Mattox, 29, admitted posting a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character when he appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court.
He used the word in a posting to ex-girlfriend Ashleigh Speed.
He wanted to see his baby son, born last October after their three-month relationship ended in April.
Magistrates were handed printouts of messages sent by Mattox to Ms Speed, her father and her sister, but they were not read to the court.
The Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: "There have probably been only a handful of cases resulting from offensive material either on Facebook or YouTube."
A spokeswoman for the Magistrates Association said: "Its certainly not a common offence. I haven’t come across it in the 20 years I've been sitting as a magistrate, but I imagine it may become more common."
Mattox, unemployed, of Acton, Wrexham, admitted the offence. He was fined £65, plus £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Justin Espie, prosecuting, said he had wanted contact with the baby and on November 29 was issued with a harassment order because he was ‘constantly texting’ Miss Speed.
He said: “Around February 12 this year the victim’s sister said that the defendant had made contact with her on Facebook and the victim also received a message. The message was brief but clearly of a harassing nature. He claims he just wants to see his baby.”
Rod Williams, defending, said: “Mattox went to see his son at hospital – that is the one and only time he has seen his son.
“He became increasingly angry and frustrated and it’s because of this that he has posted these messages.”
After the case Mr Williams said: “There was a whole background of animosity. The comment certainly wasn’t particularly abusive or offensive. He basically made a posting calling her an offensive name.”
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