Andrew John Goring stands trial charged with distributing invasive images of former partner

A former RSPCA vet believed he could share sexual photos of his ex-partner because she had posted pole-dancing photos on social media, a court has heard.

An Adelaide veterinarian and avid marathon runner believed he could share sex snaps of his former partner because she previously posted pole dancing photos on social media, a court has heard.

The woman – who described herself as an adult entertainer – told the court she had given her ex consent to send the intimate images to one friend without limitations but not another.

Andrew John Goring is standing trial at the Christies Beach Magistrate Court after pleading not guilty to four counts of knowingly distributing invasive images of a person.

Andrew John Goring was charged with four counts of knowingly distribute invasive image of a person. Picture: Facebook

It is alleged Goring, who told the court he was a former swinger, distributed around a dozen images to his partner at the time, four of which were without consent in January 2020.

The court heard a total of 13 images of different women were allegedly sent via Instagram to Goring’s then-partner.

It is alleged the photos showed the defendant and his former partners having sex as well as solo images of his partners, one of which was captioned with a crude message.

In closing submission, the police prosecutor said during Goring’s police interview he believed he had consent but claimed there was no conversation between himself and the victim.

“Because of what she does for a living and having a professional Facebook profile and herself uploading photos as a pole dancer, he implied he had that consent,” the prosecutor said.

“In my submission that’s not enough, not knowing that you’ve got consent and not even enough to believe you’ve got consent.

“As a reasonable person, if you are involved in something like this, you know that you’re going to share very intimate photographs that are taken at a private moment, you would make sure you would have that consent.”

Earlier during cross-examination, the alleged victim told the court she had given Goring consent to share images with his friend at one point of their relationship but withdrew it once she learned he was sending images to another friend.

Andrew John Goring. Picture: Facebook

“I gave him permission to choose which photos he shared with him (Goring’s friend Dave),” the woman said.

“There was on a restriction on what he showed him (Goring’s friend Trevor) and I told him he would have to contact me anytime he wanted to share photos.”

Angus Redford, for Goring, read several texts to the court which he said supported the former RSPCA vet had consent.

“BTW you have complete permission,” Mr Redford read.

“I’m fine with you sharing photos especially because I know you are cautious about showing my face.”

Goring’s text replied, “I don’t like that your face is out there”.

She told the court the pair had a conversation around Christmas 2019, where she withdrew consent for her image to be distributed to any party.

Mr Redford questioned the alleged victim on the difference between photos she shared on her work Facebook page and those his client had allegedly shared.

The victim told the court the social media account was used to share where she was working on certain nights and was accessible only to South Australians and former clients, not the general public.

In Mr Redford’s closing submission, he said there were mixed messages between his client and the victim regarding consent.

“She starts out by saying ‘you have complete permission to share whichever faceless photos you want, I don’t expect you to ask permission each time,” he said.

“It sets out the fact that there had been previous distribution and more than one time.

“There is a mixed message in that and your honour can’t exclude beyond reasonable doubt that he had a belief that he did have permission.”

The case will return for judgment at a later date.