Nathan Lock pleads guilty to stalking, willful damage at Bendigo Magistrates' Court

A Bendigo man who made almost 100 abusive phone calls to a 15-year-old girl, calling her a “terrorist” and telling her to “kill herself”, has told a court he didn’t cause her any harm.

Bendigo man Nathan Lock charged with stalking a 15-year-old, allegedly making numerous abuse phone calls.

A Bendigo man who made almost 100 abusive phone calls to a 15-year-old girl over a matter of days, calling her a “terrorist” and telling her to “kill herself”, has told a court he didn’t cause her any harm.

Nathan Lock, aged in his early 20s, pleaded guilty at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to stalking and wilfully damaging property.

Mr Lock made multiple abusive phone calls to a 15-year-old girl throughout November and December of 2022, calling her a “whore”, “terrorist”, and telling her to “kill herself” when she answered, the court heard.

The prosecution revealed in one voicemail message Mr Lock told the victim that “what he was going to do next was going to shock you”.

When police stepped in, Mr Lock told investigators the protracted altercation had started during a fight when he was on Xanax that saw him allegedly throw a shopping trolley into a car and start walking into traffic because “he was suicidal”, the court heard.

Nathan Lock faced court charged with stalking a 15-year-old girl.

Mr Lock admitted to officers he had made the abusive calls, but said the 15-year-old made threats that “some guys” would come to his house, the court heard.

Mr Lock’s lawyer said his client’s language was “offensive” and “abusive”, but did not meet the threshold to prove that Mr Lock intended or caused harm to the victim.

Bendigo man Nathan Lock made almost 100 abusive phone calls to a 15-year-old.

The defence argued there was “context” to Mr Lock’s abuse, saying the complainant threatened to send “some guys” to his house.

Magistrate Sharon McRae said the “enormous amount” of “repeated contact” would be “fairly disturbing”.

“We’re talking about a 15-year-old child here,” she said.

“I can’t see how they wouldn't have an apprehension of fear for her safety.

“I think a 15-year-old would be petrified.”

Mr Lock’s lawyer acknowledged the teenage girl was in “shock” and was disturbed”, but didn’t suffer “specific harm”.

But Ms McRae said it was unlikely “any court” would accept a “teenager is not harmed by this behaviour”.

“You’ve got an adult telling a 15-year-old to kill herself, I can’t accept that she wouldn’t be fearful,” she said.

The matter was adjourned for a bond hearing in July without conviction so Mr Lock could undergo mental health treatment and counselling.