Jessica Dixon learns fate after encouraging Tyrone Reith-Myers to take his own life

A Mount Duneed woman who told her partner “no one wants you around” and encouraged him to kill himself has learned her fate.

A Mount Duneed woman who encouraged her partner to kill himself has avoided jail time after facing up to 10 years in prison.

Jessica Dixon, 27, was sentenced to a 12 month Community Corrections Order without conviction at the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday, following the death of former partner Tyrone Reith-Myers.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie told the court “it was tempting” to convict Dixon but chose not to due to her age and lack of priors.

“It was difficult to reconcile the evidence, your admissions and all the other character references,” he said

“The offending was cruel, vicious, threatening and it was violating … making it very difficult for me to consider you a beautiful soul who wants the best for everyone.

“But for the efforts that you have made, but for the family support, but for the fact that you have other support, and notwithstanding the victim impact statements, jail was an option to the court.”

Dixon, who was found guilty of using a carriage service to relentlessly abuse her partner, had previously been charged with stalking which carries a maximum penalty of ten years, however the charges were not proven.

Mr Reith-Myers received abusive messages from Dixon across a number of social media platforms and by text between December 2017 and April 2019, when he sadly took his own life.

Prosecutor Damien Hannan revealed the extent of the messages which included “you should kill yourself,” “neck yourself,” “slit your throat” and “no one wants you around”.

At the time of being interviewed by police, Dixon admitted the messages would have made Mr Reith-Myers “feel like s**t.”

Dixon had been in a relationship with Mr Reith-Myers since 2013 until the time of his death, and had been aware of his mental health conditions.

As part of the Community Corrections Order, Dixon will complete 100 hours of unpaid community work and has been placed on a mental health supervision order.

Geelong woman told partner to take his own life

A Geelong Magistrate said he felt “ill” after reading messages from a Mount Duneed woman encouraging her now deceased partner to kill himself.

Jessica Dixon, 27, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to using a carriage service to relentlessly abuse her partner Tyrone Reith-Myers over a sustained period between December 2017 and April 2019.

Dixon, had been in a relationship with Mr Reith-Myers from 2013 until his death by suicide on April 25, 2019.

She admitted to being aware of his mental health issues at the time and attending several appointments that touched on his condition.

Prosecutor Damien Hannan told the court Dixon wrote messages including “you should kill yourself,” “neck yourself,” “slit your throat” and “no one wants you around”.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie told the court he was horrified by Dixon’s abuse before questioning the character references presented to him.

“To say she is a kind, trustworthy person, I just wonder how well they know her,” he said.

“I was horrified, absolutely horrified.

“I haven’t read such threatening and aggressive messages like this, not this consistent.”

Police began investigating Dixon after the victim’s sister uncovered a folder on Mr Reith-Myers iCloud account called “abuse I cop” which contained messages sent by Dixon.

Along with the messages, the victim made two videos recorded on April 23, 2019, just days before his death, where he wrote some of her abusive messages on his hand, including “loved by none” and “neck yourself Tyrone”.

Defence barrister Sandra Wendlandt said Dixon, who volunteers at Gateway Support Services, had already been punished by Mr Reith-Myers death which has left her “traumatised.”

“It’s something she will live with for the rest of her life and that is significant,” she said.

“She has shown maturity since the event and obtained assistance … she has no priors, no subsequent matters and it has been almost three years since the end of the offending.”

Dixon was set to appear before the County Court however with some matters resolved she was able to return to the Magistrates Court, where the maximum penalty is 12 months in prison.

The victim’s mother told the court the death of her only son has “changed everything forever.”

“Life for myself and my family will never be the same,” she said.

“When Ty fell in love, I wanted it to be reciprocated and with someone who wasn’t OK with losing him.

“I am crushed with a heaviness and sadness that I can’t describe; it can only be felt by me.

“All he wanted was to be loved and every time he tried he was knocked back by the one person who was supposed to be close to him.”

Despite being a Commonwealth offence, Mr Hannan told the court he would be seeking a Community Corrections Order for Dixon, citing her relative youth and lack of priors.

The case was adjourned until Thursday pending a corrections report.

Originally published as Jessica Dixon learns fate after encouraging Tyrone Reith-Myers to take his own life