Bogus TV exec allegedly bombarded teen ‘star’ and family with 300 abusive calls and texts

A man who claimed to be a TV talent scout allegedly approached a teen girl with promises of stardom. Instead, police say he made her life hell.

A man posing as a slick television executive promised to make a teenage girl so famous she would become a “network sl*t”, a court has heard.

But when the young Sydney woman later asked if she could bring her parents to a meeting he had arranged, the bogus talent scout bombarded her and her family with more than 300 threatening and abusive calls and messages, police have alleged.

Gerard Vamadevan, who is 51 today, appeared in Sutherland Local Court in Sydney’s south charged with use carriage service to menace/harass/offend.

He did not enter a plea, was denied bail and will spend his birthday in custody.

The prosecution said it was only the victim’s “smarts” that discouraged her from attending a coffee meeting that Mr Vamadevan was keen to set up, after he introduced himself to her in the Sydney beachside suburb of Cronulla.

Police prosecutor Andrea Rodriguez said the defendant’s “sinister intentions” only became clearer after she asked to bring her parents to the meeting.

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Gerard Vamadevan allegedly posed as a TV talent scout when he approached the teenage girl.

Police documents allege Mr Vamadevan, of Carss Park in Sydney’s south, posed as a slick “television industry talent scout” when he approached the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on March 31 this year.

But in the dock today, his appearance was about as far as you can get from the glamorous world of show business.

Rather than a sharp suit, he was wearing a faded blue hoodie emblazoned with the Sydney 2000 Olympics logo.

Documents tendered to the court allege he introduced himself as “Gerry” to the girl and told her he was a talent scout who could get her a role as a TV actor.

The pair swapped numbers and he added her on Snapchat. The same day he allegedly began messaging her, asking to meet for a coffee.

“When the victim said she would like to bring her parents, the tone of the messages changed,” the documents stated.

He allegedly told the girl that he had already told “several TV networks” about her and one wanted a follow up interview.

He stated she would soon be a “network sl*t”, police say.

“The messages deteriorated with Gerry calling the victim a sl*t and stating he would put her number on a sugar daddy website,” police documents stated.

At one point he allegedly messaged: “Sl*t, open your legs sl*t”.

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When the girl asked to bring her parents to a meeting, police allege Gerard Vamadevan became abusive.

Suspicious, the girl’s brother called Mr Vamadevan demanding that he stop contacting her.

The girl blocked him on Snapchat and the incident was reported to police.

Mr Vamadevan is then alleged to have left numerous obscene voicemail messages, including one where two men can be heard talking about sex acts on animals.

Police say the man made contact with the teen 125 times and one of her family members 196 times over the course of just a few hours on April 2.

These included “threats” regarding what he would do with her phone number that would “understandably shake a young person”, Ms Rodriguez said.

“The defendant didn’t achieve his ultimate aim of meeting with victim. It was only the victim’s smarts and self preservation that stopped more serious charges.

The prosecutor said Mr Vamadevan avoided police attempts to discuss the incident.

“The defendant went to a considerable amount of effort not to attend meetings with police,” she said.

“It was blatant attempt to not face matters before this court. It was only sheer coincidence he was identified and brought before the court.”

Gerard Vamadevan allegedly bombarded the girl and her family with hundreds of abusive calls and texts.

Police issued a warrant for the man’s arrest when he couldn’t be located.

At about 4pm on Monday he was arrested at Taren Point and taken to Sutherland Police Station.

Mr Vamadevan denied in court he had avoided police and said that he had made multiple attempts both in person and via email to contact officers.

Magistrate Peter Bugden said if he could present evidence of that at a later date, bail might be considered. But, for now, he would remain behind bars.

He will face court again on 17 September.