A MAN used social media to harass two former partners.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ben Porter made threats towards one and then claimed he had been having a relationship with the other behind her back.

Blackburn magistrates heard the two women were friends and were relating to each other the abuse and threats that Porter was making through Facebook and text messages.

Porter, 27, of Peel Gardens, Colne, pleaded guilty to two charges of harassment and being in breach of post sentence supervision. He was jailed for a total of 10 weeks and ordered to pay £122 victim surcharge on release.

Glen Anderton, prosecuting, said one of the victims started receiving Facebook and text messages from Porter who had been her partner for three years.

They became more and more abusive and threatening and he then claimed he had been having a relationship with her friend who had previously been his partner.

One of the women received a message from Porter with a picture of someone with a gun on their knee.

Mark Williams, defending, said his client had to accept the sending of a photograph with a picture of a gun carried a threat.

“They were more rantings rather than anything that was going to be carried out and represented a serious threat,” said Mr Williams.