Man arrested over ‘harassing, racially charged’ email to ex-ABC host

A man has been charged with sending a “harassing, racially charged email” that “called for violence and harm” to a former ABC journalist.

A man in his 60s has been charged with sending a “harassing, racially charged email” that “called for violence and harm” to well-known journalist Antoinette Lattouf.

Ms Lattouf took to social media on Tuesday to reveal she went to police late last year after she received a “harassing, racially charged email from a man I’d never met”.

“It wasn’t even the most vile or threatening message I’d received, even though it called for violence and harm,” the presenter wrote.

“But I was exhausted. Frustrated. And I thought: I shouldn’t have to cop this. That day, I’d had enough. So I reported it.”

Journalist Antoinette Lattouf has welcomed the arrest of a man who allegedly sent her a harassing email. Picture: Instagram

Months later, NSW Police called and said they had identified the alleged perpetrator and wanted to place him under arrest.

Ms Lattouf said she “hesitated” before making a statement to police about the alleged harassment.

“Should I go through with this? Was I scared enough? Unsafe enough? Was I worthy of police resources? Women are conditioned to endure hate and harassment. Women of colour, even more so,” she wrote online.

“Maybe he was having a bad day. Maybe he thought it was funny.”

Ms Lattouf reported the email to police last year. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

However, the journalist said she was swayed by a “disturbing” observation from a sergeant that “generally speaking, (people) who are violent to women in person almost always start online”.

According to NSW Police, a 61-year-old man was arrested at a house in Lake Cathie, south of Port Macquarie on the NSW North Coast, before 7am on Tuesday.

He was charged with using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend.

Ms Lattouf welcomed the news of the arrest in her social media post.

Ms Lattouf previously worked as a fill-in presenter for the ABC. Picture: Instagram

“Also, if you’re copping this abusive sh** online, report it. You shouldn’t have to put up with it. We shouldn’t normalise it. And as for police resources? L’Oreal it up, babes – yep, you’re worth it,” she posted.

The arrest comes after a legal battle between Ms Lattouf and the ABC has made headlines in the past two weeks.

The former ABC presenter is suing her former employer over allegations she was unlawfully dismissed when she was sacked from her final two shifts while filling in as the host of ABC’s Sydney Mornings in December 2023.

Originally published as Man arrested over ‘harassing, racially charged’ email to ex-ABC host