Man allegedly threatened to send revenge porn to ex's father six months after break-up

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.

After getting dumped, a man allegedly launched a campaign of blackmail and coercion against his former girlfriend, including threatening to post intimate images of her online and send them to her father.

The 22-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was refused bail after he was formally charged in the ACT Magistrates Court over the allegations.

The court heard his ex-partner claimed she broke up with him six months ago, but he continued to harass her.

On Tuesday (23 April), she allegedly received 87 threatening and menacing phone calls from a private number, which police claim belonged to the man.

He allegedly made a fake social media account to contact her and made more threats to leak intimate images.

Also, the man allegedly threatened to kill her and tried to coerce her into meeting up with him, otherwise he would send intimate images to her father.

On Wednesday (24 April), prosecutor Jack Hill alleged there was evidence of blackmail and coercion by the man.

Mr Hill told the court the man had demonstrated “concerning possessive behaviour” to a former partner who broke up with him six months earlier.

The man applied for bail, which was opposed by the prosecutor.

His Legal Aid lawyer said the man lived in north Canberra and had been diagnosed with mental health conditions, possibly including bipolar disorder.

Magistrate Robert Cook told the man his ex had “clearly flagged” that she no longer wanted “for you to be part of her life”.

However, it appeared “you don’t understand that”, he told the man.

The magistrate was not satisfied any conditions could ameliorate the risks of the man being on bail and refused it.

The man did not enter pleas to two counts of threatening to capture or distribute intimate images of another person, nor to single counts of using a carriage service to harass and threatening to kill another person.

He was remanded in custody and his matter will return to court in May.

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.