A woman who posted a picture on Facebook of prime minister Mark Rutte with a noose around his neck has been ordered to carry out 40 hours’ unpaid work.

Eveline de V. posted the doctored photograph last year in response to a discussion about images of former TV presenter turned politician Sylvana Simons, who was the subject of a video that depicted her being lynched.

The district court in The Hague said the image, which was accompanied by a threatening message, was ‘unacceptable’. ‘However much you may disagree with a politician, this is a disgraceful way to express it.’

‘This message has the potential to cause feelings of insecurity and unrest,’ the judge added.

The 47-year-old woman from Leiden was also given a suspended jail sentence of one week and ordered to undergo a two-year forensic assessment for her personality problems.