Man who called complete stranger and yelled homophobic slurs at him was caught out after victim recorded hateful comments
He had been drinking heavily with a group of his footy mates when he “pranked” a random person, yelling anti-gay slurs down the phone line.
Inner South
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner South . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A plastered plasterer who made homophobic prank calls to someone he had never met has been reprimanded by a Moorabbin magistrate for his “insulting” and “offensive” behaviour.
The 22-year-old apprentice had been drinking heavily with a group of his footy mates when he rang a random number more than a dozen times.
On six occasions he spoke to the innocent stranger drunkenly ranting hateful slurs such as “faggot”, and calling him a “gay c***”.
PORN PERV PHONED PARENTS FOR KID SEX
FACEBOOKER'S CALL TO SHOOT MALCOLM TURNBULL
Thomas McGowan pleaded guilty at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court today to one charge of using a carriage service to harass.
The court heard on May 4 last year the victim, who also happens to be a plasterer, received 15 calls from a number not known to him.
He picked up on six occasions and listened to the anti-gay tirades, taping one of them and taking the recording to police.
An investigation tracked the number to one of McGowan’s mates, who said he had lent his phone to him during the time the calls were made.
When police interviewed McGowan he said he was “just taking the p*** with his footy mates” and couldn’t remember what he had said.
Representing himself in court he said he was deeply sorry for his “immature prank” and apologised to the court and the victim.
“There are no excuses for what I did,” McGowan said.
“I am not homophobic at all, I have several gay friends.”
MAN ATTACKS EX OVER CALL TO MUM
NO JAIL FOR GUMTREE SCAMMER PHONE RIP-OFF
When asked why he had used same-sex slurs, he said the comments came from a rude card game the group were playing at the time, and he just shouted them down the phone line.
Magistrate Stephen Lee said homophobic remarks were highly offensive and insulting, and must be denounced.
“They were extremely disparaging remarks, indeed they were homophobic,” Mr Lee said.
“Homophobic comments today, in Australia, are completely inappropriate”.
He said his young age, lack of criminal history, good prospects and genuine remorse were factors in his favour.
McGowan was fined $600, with no conviction recorded.
MORE COURT NEWS