Calwell man charged with family violence offences

The man will appear in the ACT Courts today. Photo: Albert McKnight.

A 46-year-old Calwell man will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (3 May) in relation to multiple alleged family violence offences.

Police will allege that over a six-month period, the man committed offences including blackmailing his victim, sending intimate images of the victim without consent, and sending harassing and abusive messages.

It will be further alleged that when the victim obtained a new phone number in an attempt to stop the man from making contact, the man used a social media application to trick the victim into disclosing the new phone number and address.

The man allegedly continued to attempt to contact the victim after receiving bail in October 2023, at which time he reportedly fled the ACT.

Following extensive enquiries by members from Tuggeranong Police Station and the Family Violence Unit, the man was located in the ACT on Sunday, 21 April, and was subsequently arrested.

He has been charged with 44 counts of contravening a family violence order, eight counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend, two counts of blackmail, and one count of threatening to distribute intimate images.

Officer in Charge of Tuggeranong Police Station, Inspector Rod Anderson, said family violence comes in various forms and emphasised that police and the community take this offending seriously.

“Family violence is not only about hitting, it is about the exercise of coercive control by the perpetrator over the victim-survivor, and can take many forms including stalking, online harassment, threats, intimate image sharing, and physical and sexual violence,” Inspector Anderson said.

“Even in the absence of physical violence, the persistent and obsessive nature of the type of offending, in this case, can have a huge impact on victim-survivors, and we encourage anyone experiencing any of the above forms of family violence to contact police and/or support services.

“Help is available, and you will be taken seriously.”

If you are a victim of family violence or believe someone you know is the victim of family violence, you can contact police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, or attend any police station. You can also make a report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously. The following support services are also available:

• ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service 02 6280 0900
• Canberra Rape Crisis Centre 02 6247 2525
• YWCA Canberra 02 6185 2000
• ACT Government family violence services.