Tasmanian man accused of ‘trout sex’ video pleads guilty

The man accused of filming and sharing a viral video of a sex act with a live trout has entered a plea. What the court heard.

Ashley David Hallam at Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The man accused of filming and sharing a viral video of an alleged sex act with a live brown trout has entered a guilty plea to charges in a Hobart court on Monday.

Ashley David Hallam, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court, withdrawing his previous not guilty plea for one count of possessing a bestiality product and one count of making or reproducing a bestiality product.

Charges against his co-accused Catherine June Lee were dismissed by the prosecutor in the Hobart Magistrates Court earlier in 2025.

Appearing before Magistrate Marica Duvnjak, Mr Hallam’s lawyer said him seeking to resolve the matter through a guilty plea shows he was “taking responsibility”, saving both the state and Ms Lee “more embarrassment”.

“Ultimately Mr Hallam is a man of his word and takes responsibility,” he said.

Police allege the Dolphin Sands resident used a live trout to perform a sexual act on Ms Lee while filming the encounter and sharing it online between February 1, 2022 and January 25, 2023.

It was accepted that both Mr Hallam and Ms Lee were willing participants, with Mr Hallam physically involved as a “second hand” participant.

The court heard Mr Hallam filmed the video and later sent the video to six people without Ms Lee’s knowledge, leading it to be distributed further online.

The prosecution said they did not suggest Mr Hallam was responsible for the distribution, but he should have known it was a possibility.

Prosecutor Letitia Fox said the aggravating factor of the mass distribution of the video which impacted the other participant and Mr Hallam’s physical involvement in the act “increased culpability”.

Ms Fox told the court Mr Hallam had prior history “disregarding legislation to protect animals” that was relevant in her view, although not similar in nature to the latest offending.

“He does not come to court as a person of good character,” she said.

Mr Hallam’s lawyer told the court his work opportunities and relationships have been impacted, but the fact he was supported in court by his wife of 35 years “speaks to his ultimate character”.

“Mr Hallam is incredibly embarrassed and has suffered an intense amount of reproach,” he said.

Mr Hallam’s lawyer urged Magistrate Duvnjak to consider parity and Mr Hallam’s “obvious remorse” in sentencing.

“Insofar as it affects Mr Hallam there is already a disproportionate response that he has pleaded guilty and [Ms Lee] has not been proceeded against,” he said.

The court heard Mr Hallam’s most common response to text messages about the video showed “concern for Cath”.

Mr Hallam’s lawyer said a suspended sentence was “not a light option in Mr Hallam’s case”.

Ms Fox said there were no previous sentences for charges of making or reproducing bestiality material that could be relied upon in this case, as they have been “without deviation” global sentences including charges relating to child exploitation material.

Ms Fox said the need for specific and general deterrents, denunciation, and protection of animals need to be considered in sentencing.

Possessing a bestiality product carries a maximum penalty of $40,400 or 2 years imprisonment, and making or reproducing a bestiality product carries a maximum penalty of $10,100 or 12 months prison.

Court was adjourned for lawyers to prepare further submissions and Mr Hallam is expected to return to court for sentence on June 23.

Originally published as Tasmanian man accused of ‘trout sex’ video pleads guilty