Wollongong Man Sent Intimate Videos to Ex in 'Warped' Bid to Rekindle Romance
A Wollongong man who sent his ex-girlfriend intimate videos from a hospital bed has been sentenced in court, with his solicitor stating he aimed to 'spark some memories' of their prior relationship. The 34-year-old, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to stalking/intimidation and intentionally distributing an image without consent in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday morning.
Incident Details and Police Involvement
Court documents reveal that police were called twice to the man's Wollongong home on the evening of February 9 following welfare concerns. After being found, he was transported to Wollongong Hospital, where he used a landline to contact his ex-partner. The following day, he called her mobile phone, discussing rekindling their relationship. Despite her requests to stop, he continued calling and began sending emails.
Around noon, he sent the victim several intimate videos via WhatsApp, which they had made two to three years earlier. The victim responded with 'revolt' and screenshotted the messages, prompting the man to delete the videos from the platform. After his release from hospital on February 11, he visited the victim's Port Kembla home four times, ignoring her demands to leave. Police were called due to safety concerns over his escalating behaviour, leading to his arrest in Wollongong on February 12.
Court Proceedings and Defence Arguments
In custody, the man told police he was heavily medicated and had little recollection of the calls or messages. His Legal Aid lawyer, Ms Agius, explained to the court that the incident followed an 'affectionate and supportive visit' from the victim during his hospital stay. She argued he did not send the videos to menace but rather to rekindle memories of their past relationship.
Ms Agius noted that the man has since taken steps to address his mental health and criminogenic factors related to the offence. However, Judge Geraldine Beattie was unimpressed, describing his intentions as 'warped' and highlighting the distressing impact on the victim, who was in another relationship at the time.
Sentencing and Judicial Remarks
Judge Beattie pointedly asked the man if the videos still existed, to which he replied 'yes'. She emphasised that the victim's distress was significant and urged the man to consider her feelings. Acknowledging that he is 'on the right track' with mental health support, she expressed hope he would pause and reflect on his actions.
The man was placed on a community correction order for one year and fined $1200. This case underscores the serious consequences of stalking and non-consensual image distribution, with the court balancing accountability against efforts at rehabilitation.
