‘I know where you live’: Letters from academics’ alleged fake threat campaign revealed

A jury has been shown a series of letters allegedly written by ex- UTS Dean, Dianne Jolley, as part of a campaign of fake threats to herself.

The vulgar and expletive-laden letters allegedly sent by a senior Sydney academic as part of a fake harassment campaign can be revealed.

Dianne Jolley, 51, is standing trial in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court where she has denied allegations she sent herself a series of threatening letters between July 2019 and January 2020.

In court on Thursday, the jury was shown the 11 threatening letters the former University of Technology Sydney Dean of Science allegedly penned to herself, as well as another eight she allegedly sent to fellow UTS staff members.

She has pleaded not guilty to a string of charges including causing financial disadvantage by deception and 16 counts of conveying information likely to make a person fear for their safety.

Dianne Jolley leaves the Sydney’s Downing Centre courts on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley.

“Chop our future, we chop yours,” the first letter, sent on July 31, 2019, said in giant font.

The court has previously heard that three of the letters claimed they had been dipped in “bacteria” and resulted in part of the campus being shut down and Hazmat officers being called.

“You are so ignorant, I made you sick on 4/7 and more sick on 23/7,” another letter read.

The crown has argued that several of the letters came as Ms Jolley attempted to cut a traditional Chinese medicine course from the science faculty but faced resistance from the university board.

“You are f***ed racist bitch,” said one letter allegedly sent by Ms Jolley to herself.

“China hating lesbian.

“I watch you. I see what you do. Your (sic) not safe and you know.”

Some of the letters allegedly sent by former Dean of Science at the University of Technology Sydney Dianne Jolley to herself. Picture: Supplied.

One of the letters allegedly sent by Dianne Jolley to herself. Picture: Supplied.

One letter, sent inside a greeting card which said “Goodbye, see ya, good luck” on the front included a photo of Ms Jolley with her face crossed out in red pen.

Another contained women’s underwear and her office address.

One simply said: “I know where you live”.

As the threats escalated, the university put in place significant security measures including placing CCTV in and around her office, as well as for her home, and paid for a personal security guard.

The extra security measures cost the university a total of $127,596.

The crown has alleged that she was the author of all 19 notes and that her fingerprints were found on some of the envelopes.

After the first letter was received, the university’s security staff met with police on how best to handle the threats.

It resulted in CCTV cameras being installed in and around Ms Jolleys’ office.

One of the photos which it is alleged Dianne Jolley sent to herself resulting in UTS putting in place extra security. Picture: Supplied.

Some of the letters which Dianne Jolley allegedly sent to herself contained her work address. Picture: Supplied.

Gabriel Karanastasis, the university’s security systems manager, told the jury there were five cameras in and around her room inside the science faculty.

“There was one in the lunch room, one in the corridor leading towards Ms Jolley’s office, one in the office, one in the open space and one looking at her office entry door,” he said.

Under questioning from defence barrister Leah Rowan, he told the court that around the time the threatening letters started rolling in, there were several “strange incidents” including gas taps being left on and racist writing being left on a lab wall.

He also said that they began looking into a man - who cannot be named for legal reasons - after receiving a complaint from the head of the traditional Chinese medicine department Christopher Zaslawski.

Mr Karanastasis said that the man initially raised security’s attention several years prior when he was banned from the university’s acupuncture clinic because he asked to only be treated by young Asian women.

He said security staff informed the police about the man, who went be several aliases and was active in posting on forums dedicated to saving the Traditional Chinese Medicine department.

“We didn’t know who was sending them so we were keeping our options open,” he said.

The trial continues.