Geelong businessman Joshua John Plozza pleads guilty to stalking

Geelong takeaway store owner sent a woman abusive texts, emails and messages for years, leaving her terrified, a court has heard.

JP's Drive Thru owner Joshua Plozza appeared in Geelong court this week.

For years, a Geelong takeaway store owner sent a woman abusive texts, emails and messages that left her terrified.

Joshua John Plozza, 32, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court via videolink from remand on Tuesday, and pleaded guilty to stalking.

According to court documents, the woman described Plozza as being “angry, jealous and controlling”, and she became “worn down”, feeling worthless and “overwhelmed with fear and anxiety”.

Plozza would send “reams” of abusive texts and messages, “belittling and insulting her and persistently accusing her of being unfaithful and promiscuous”.

The Geelong Advertiser has chosen not to publish much of what was contained in the messages due to their graphic nature.

The majority were sent between November 2020 and August 2022.

Many included misogynistic insults and abuse.

Plozza used various emails, Instagram and WhatsApp accounts to send the messages.

On one occasion, Plozza became enraged after seeing the woman playing tennis with a male friend, calling, texting and promising to “break (her) f--king nose”.

Throughout December 2020 Plozza repeatedly drove past the woman’s house, even frightening her on one occasion by walking up to her window.

The woman discovered that Plozza was spreading personal information about “her body, medical history and sexual past” to “people she barely knew”, the court heard.

On Christmas Eve in 2020, Plozza emailed the woman and said: “No doubt you’ll be getting hospitalised by someone you piece of f--king trash”.

The abuse continued on other accounts, with Plozza variously telling the woman she was “disgusting”, that he hoped she’d die, that he was going to spit on her and that her father would be “disappointed” in her.

According to court documents, Plozza also made use of a virtual phone number and the phones of others to contact the victim, including a woman he was dating and a business associate.

Plozza again contacted the woman on Instagram in April 2024, prompting the woman to go to the police. He was arrested on April 25.

According to court documents, when interviewed Plozza told police “it could be anyone” in relation to the emails and messages.

The court heard Plozza’s behaviour had caused the victim to feel “terrified”.

Plozza had previously been charged with similar offending, and had completed a Men’s Behaviour Change program, the court was told.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie said clearly it hadn’t changed his behaviour.

Plozza’s lawyer, Simon Northeast, told the court his client had suffered a “steep fall from grace” since the matter became public.

Plozza’s time in custody had been a “major wake up call”, Mr Northeast said, and cost him his popular business.

Plozza’s restaurant, JP’s Drive Thru, has since shut its doors.

Plozza felt guilt and remorse about his offending, Mr Northeast said, and was suffering from major depressive disorder.

His friends “pretty much deserted him” Mr Northeast said, leaving him with just family support. The court heard Plozza had contemplated suicide.

“He’s upset his family, he’s embarrassed himself … he’s ruined both his life and his reputation,” Mr Northeast said.

Plozza will reappear in court on July 17.

Originally published as Geelong businessman Joshua John Plozza pleads guilty to stalking