Christopher Zammit fined for social media tirade against Tigers’ star Dylan Grimes

A Frankston man who abused Richmond football player Dylan Grimes with vile posts online, including threatening to rape his wife, has escaped conviction.

Richmond's Dylan Grimes was subjected to vile posts on social media by an angry Essendon fan. Picture: Sarah Reed

An angry football fan has escaped conviction after publishing vile comments on wedding pictures of Richmond player Dylan Grimes and his wife just days after the footballer received a controversial free kick.

Essendon fanatic Christopher Zammit admitted he left offensive comments on three of Grimes’ public Instagram photos following last year’s Dreamtime blockbuster before sending a private message to the Tigers’ defender threatening to rape his wife Elisha.

“Can’t wait to visit,” Zammit wrote on a picture of the couples’ Mount Macedon winery.

“Cheating prick, come back and let’s go,” Zammit continued.

The Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday heard the father-of-four had been drunk and angry after watching the August 23 clash between Richmond and Essendon in Darwin from his home in Melbourne.

Dylan Grimes and his wife, Elisha. Picture: Instagram

After waking up and watching a replay of the game, Zammit began harassing Grimes on social media, the court heard.

Zammit, 40, later texted sports radio station SEN stating: “Grimes deserves every ounce of keyboard warriors he gets”.

He also admitted to menacing AFL umpire, Andrew Stephens, in the days after he refereed a game between Essendon and the Brisbane Lions on July 31, leaving three voicemails accusing Stephens of a “cover up”.

Zammit pleaded guilty to two counts of using a carriage service to menace.

Charges of stalking Grimes and Stephens were struck out.

Magistrate Richard Pithouse lambasted Zammit for his “completely and utterly unnecessary and offensive” conduct, which instilled fear in his victims.

“Your frustrations … were totally misconceived and excessive,” Mr Pithouse said.

The court heard another Essendon supporter had been charged following the controversial free-kick saga which saw Grimes accused of staging.

Andrew Alexander was handed a diversion in December after admitting he sent death threats to Grimes’ email account.

Grimes and his wife were subjected to foul online threats. Picture: Getty Images

“No one deserves to be treated in the manner you treated those people on the internet,” Mr Pithouse said.

Mr Pithouse accepted Zammit had apologised to Grimes’ shortly after sending the direct messages and was genuinely remorseful.

The court heard Zammit was fired from his decade-long job and had his Working with Children’s Check revoked following his arrest.

“You’ve lost your job, you can’t go to sport with your kids … and you’ve lost the respect of your family,”

“I am prepared to give you a second chance,” Mr Pithouse said.

Zammit was sentenced to a one year good behaviour bond and fined $2000 without conviction.

He is also banned from attending any Essendon or Richmond games for the next 12 months.

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