Accused blackmailer allegedly sent revenge porn to ex-boyfriend

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.

A man is accused of blackmail after threatening his ex-boyfriend with revenge porn in an attempt to get his alleged victim to pay him money and comply with his demands.

The 46-year-old, who has not been named to protect his ex’s identity, faces charges that include two counts of blackmail, six counts of distributing an intimate image and nine counts of using a carriage service to harass.

Police allege between September and November 2023, he sent 1299 phone messages, 81 images and made 115 calls to his ex, including sending abuse and threats.

“Just watch yourself coming and going someone may be just around the corner,” he allegedly said.

“And you getting f-d by the two gay guys may end on people’s computer at work over the next few days. And got you smoking a crack pipe too.”

He allegedly began saying that if his ex did not pay him money and comply with his directions, then he would send intimate images and videos of his ex to his work, family and friends.

“Think I’m joking, I’m not,” he allegedly said.

“If my bond money is not in my bank in the next few hours they are getting sent out. First video goes out at 11 pm, then more every hour after that.

“[You] have two days to return vacuum and ring. If not more go out.”

The man allegedly began sending numerous explicit or intimate images and videos of himself and his ex, both together and by themselves, to the latter.

He also allegedly sent his ex explicit images of other men, as well as explicit videos of himself and other men.

In addition, the man allegedly threatened to send “a very hard guy” to his ex’s mother’s home “to watch your movements and let’s see who gets hurt”.

On Tuesday (25 June), the prosecutor told the ACT Magistrates Court that the alleged messages were “highly manipulative”.

The man’s lawyer, Giordano Borzuola of Legal Aid, said his client would indicate guilty pleas to all of his charges except for the two counts of blackmail, although these pleas were not formally entered.

His client, who has been in custody since April, applied for bail. Mr Borzoula said his client’s ex, the alleged victim in this matter, was in the courtroom to support the application, although his support was not “blinded by sentiment” and was a pragmatic approach.

He proposed for his client to remain in home detention and undergo strict therapeutic programs, saying the main risk factor was his client’s drug use.

Mr Borzoula said the allegations occurred during a relapse, but he had been sober while in custody.

The man, appearing over audio-visual link from custody, also spoke up to claim he had been assaulted twice, spent two weeks in solitary confinement and had COVID-19 twice while in jail.

Bail was opposed by the prosecutor, who said the man had been on parole and was already on bail when he allegedly committed most of the recent offences.

Ultimately, Magistrate Jane Campbell said she was not convinced the man could comply with bail conditions “in any way” and thought the risks of releasing him were too high.

Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned to July.

If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732 or by visiting www.1800respect.org.au. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.