A Cyprus resident who sent a secretly-recorded sex tape of a woman to one of her male relatives via WhatsApp has been jailed under UK 'revenge porn' laws.

Christopher Christou left his victim feeling “disgusted, embarrassed and humiliated” by what a judge described as “pernicious” offending.

Not only had the 49-year-old filmed the explicit footage without the victim's knowledge, he also threatened to share it with more family members, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Christou was living in Cyprus when he sent the video but was arrested last year while sleeping at an address in Shepherds Way in Lower Stoke, Rochester.

Having later admitted offences of disclosing a private sexual film and threatening to disclose the same material, he was sentenced on Friday (February 7).

Prosecutor Trevor Wright told the court although the victim did not know about the recording when it was made, she was "crying within seconds" of being shown what had been shared with her relative on WhatsApp.

"She was mortified and knew it was a video of Christou and her engaged in sexual acts," he told the court.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, then reported him to police after he sent a number of text messages threatening to distribute it to others.

In her victim impact statement read to the court, she said his behaviour had led to “insurmountable pressure and pain”.

"I felt disgusted that he felt he could control me by using a very personal video. The fact he felt the need to send the video was both embarrassing and humiliating," she wrote.

"If this wasn't bad enough, to then threaten further action in respect of sending it to (others) was incomprehensible."

She concluded: "My world has been turned upside-down...I don't feel I will ever be the same person I was once was."

Harry MacDonald, defending Christou, said although his criminal behaviour was "gross", it had been "reactionary" to an argument.

My world has been turned upside-down...I don't feel I will ever be the same person I was once was

However, he also told the court there was "clearly another side" to him, having demonstrated "a huge capacity for empathy and a good degree of insight" while in custody on remand.

Imposing a 10-month jail term, Recorder Daniel Stevenson told Christou, who appeared via video link from London's Wandsworth Prison, that he had intended to "inflict the maximum amount of distress" on his victim.

"Revenge porn is a pernicious offence. It causes significant distress to victims and that is exactly why you did what you did, and why in particular you threatened to disclose it to her close family and why you sent it," said the judge.

“You intended to maximise humiliation and distress. What else could you have otherwise intended by deliberately sending a sex tape?”

Due to time already served on remand, Christou would have been eligible for immediate release at the end of the hearing.

However, the court heard he is currently subject to a European arrest warrant in respect of a police investigation in Cyprus and therefore likely to remain in custody while awaiting extradition.

Detective Sergeant Alan Poulton said: “Christou was clearly intent on inflicting the maximum humiliation and embarrassment upon his victim.

“She has suffered an immeasurable amount of distress, and her life has been profoundly impacted by his cruel actions.

“We are thankful that the victim has found the courage to give evidence and ensure Christou has now faced justice.

“I would urge anyone who might be going through something similar to please remember that help is here, and you do not need to suffer this in silence.

“While we understand how uncomfortable this can be, sharing private images is a serious offence and if you report this to the police any offenders will be pursued robustly.”