Man refused bail after court hears about alleged campaign of intimidation against CYPS worker

A Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) worker allegedly faced a relentless period of intimidation from a man who is accused of going to elaborate lengths to harass her, including writing an email to her work in which he claimed to be her and said she was resigning and addicted to cocaine.

Documents have been tendered to the court outlining the allegations against the 31-year-old accused of targeting her. He first appeared in court in March and was refused bail.

CYPS removed children from the man’s care over concerns for their welfare last year, after which a worker involved in the matter submitted an affidavit to the ACT Children’s Court. An affidavit was also given to the children’s parents.

A few days later, the man allegedly texted a long and abusive message to the CYPS worker, accusing her of lying in a “legal document”.

“You f-king little fat rat you make my kids suffer every day because you have no f-king clue to what your [sic] doing,” he allegedly wrote.

“Tables will turn one day promise you that…. [sic]”

Shortly afterwards, he allegedly sent another lengthy message, accusing her of taking the children “for no reason” and called her “f-king lier scum [sic]”.

“[Our children] are healthy always up to date with there doctor check ups never ending good healthy food for them I shouldn’t have to explain to a gronk like yourself,” he allegedly said.

A CYPS supervisor messaged the man the next day, warning him they did not tolerate abuse or threats and would be sending the messages to their legal team.

But over the next half hour the man allegedly sent more abusive messages to the worker, although he quickly apologised.

The man has also been handed a stalking charge, partly relating to how weeks later, the worker received a message from a sexual health centre service saying she may have been exposed to syphilis and advising her to get tested.

He is also accused of being behind an email sent to the CYPS’s general email account the next day, which purported to be from the worker saying she was quitting her job.

The email claimed she was a “cocaine addic [sic]”, that she had been approached by media to let them know about the “false bulls-t” the CYPS “made up” on people, and also said “you b-ches can suck it”.

The worker also received emails from the Beyond Blue support service falsely claiming she had contacted them regarding sexual matters.

After the last email, CYPS contacted police and relocated the worker out of concern for her safety.

On Thursday (14 April), the prosecutor told the ACT Magistrates Court the man had applied for bail again earlier that day and it had been refused.

He also said the man was yet to enter pleas to charges that included stalking, intimidating a witness, using a carriage service to menace, impersonating a public official and damaging property.

Magistrate Glenn Theakston remanded the man in custody and adjourned the case to later in April.

The 31-year-old’s name has been suppressed so he legally cannot be identified.