Jacob Cochrane: Bardwell Valley man sentenced for abusive messages, posting explicit images of woman

A young man who unleashed more than 75 abusive messages to a woman, before posting an explicit image of her on Instagram, has been jailed.

A young man who unleashed more than 75 abusive messages to a woman, before posting an explicit image of her on Instagram, has been jailed.

The full extent of 25-year-old’s Jacob Cochrane “relentless” attacks was revealed in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, with the actions deemed by a magistrate as “extreme abuse”.

The Bardwell Valley man was sentenced for stalking and intimidating with intent for the victim to fear physical harm, and intentionally distribute intimate images without consent.

According to facts tendered to court Cochrane sent more than 40 abusive text messages and 36 Snapchat messages to a woman across a number of days in April. He then posted a graphic image of her on Instagram, as well as sharing the picture with his brother and a friend.

The Bardwell man outside Waverley Local Court on September 28.

Cochrane has refused to delete intimate and sexual images of the woman, court documents state.

The 25-year-old man’s lawyer told the court Cochrane, who works at the ports, had expressed remorse for what he now recognised was “putrid” behaviour.

“The facts are unpleasant reading,” he said. “He really went off at the victim in completely unacceptable and disturbing ways.”

The lawyer asked the court to consider a community corrections order given the man had been suffering mental health issues at the time and was admitted to a mental health facility after experiencing suicidal thoughts.

The police prosecutor asked for a full-time prison sentence.

Cochrane outside Waverley Local Court before he was sentenced.

“It seems all he needs to commit another offence is an iPhone,” he said.

Magistrate Rodney Brender detailed facts that Cochrane had levelled threats including; “I’m going to slit your throat” as well as posting explicit images.

“While you said you have mental health concerns – and I have no doubt that you do – this wasn’t able to be verified,” Mr Brender said.

“This sort of violence, and domestic violence, is serious criminal conduct.”

Cochrane was convicted of all charges and sentenced to an 18-month jail sentence, with a nine month non-parole period.

Cochrane was placed into custody at Waverley Court this Wednesday.

An appeal was immediately lodged and a subsequent bail application was refused.

“There have been threats to kill this lady, and there has been extreme abuse,” Magistrate Brender said. “I’m not satisfied there are any conditions acceptable to mitigate the risk.”