Andrew Hayler charged with distributing intimate images

Police have sought more time to compile evidence against a Sydney man accused of posting multiple women’s intimate images online without their consent, and harassing dozens of others.

A man has been charged with distributing multiple women’s intimate images without their consent. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The lawyer for a Sydney man accused of publishing multiple women’s intimate images online without their consent made a bold bid to have his client discharged after police hit the time limit to compile evidence against him.

Andrew Hayler, 38, has been charged with seven counts of intentionally distributing intimate images without consent and 35 counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.

In total 21 women have made complaints against Hayler in respect of his alleged conduct towards them.

Police documents tendered to Downing Centre Local Court state Hayler is accused of posting five women’s intimate images – on a now-defunct Instagram account of three occasions, and on a now-defunct pornographic website four times.

Hayler is further accused of using either a mobile phone or laptop to menace, harass or offend those women and 16 others.

The offences are alleged to have occurred in Sydney’s inner west at various times between April 2020 and August 2022.

Hayler is accused of harassing more than a dozen women.

The prosecution is given a six-month deadline to certify whether the evidence is capable of establishing each element of the crime an individual is charged with – and by July 4, time had run out.

The court can either adjourn the proceedings or discharge the accused – and that is what Hayler’s solicitor sought when a solicitor for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions asked for more time to finalise the charges.

The CDPP solicitor told the court investigators were still combing through a substantial amount of data and highlighted how serious the charges were in seeking a three month extension.

Magistrate Jenny Atkinson declined to discharge Hayler and granted the prosecution an extension.

“These are serious charges, distributing intimate images of a person without consent, and any of the matters that involve investigation of electronic devices do take time,” Ms Atkinson said.

“I accept there is an interest in justice in justice in your client getting the matter done, but the interests of justice require the process to be given a chance to do it properly.”

The matter was adjourned for charge certification on August 29 at the Downing Centre.