Former Sony boss Denis Handlin and family target of harassment and abusive calls, court hears

Denis Handlin was subjected to a torrent of abuse for ‘what you did to those Sony people’, resulting in police charging a family associate with harassment offences.

Former Sony Music boss Denis Handlin. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Disgraced former Sony Music Australia boss Denis Handlin was subjected to a torrent of abuse for “what you did to those Sony people”, resulting in police charging a family associate with harassment offences.

Mr Handlin’s 37-year reign at Sony came to an abrupt end in 2021 amid claims of systemic bullying, discrimination and misconduct under his leadership.

The previously formidable music executive and former ARIA board chair, who once dressed up as Hitler and marched around Sony offices performing the Nazi salute, was stripped of numerous awards following explosive revelations in an ABC Four Corners program.

Former Sony Music Australia boss Denis Handlin dressed as Hitler. Picture: ABC

Steven Clapham, a commercial real estate agent from North Sydney married to the ex-wife of Mr Handlin’s son Patrick, pleaded guilty this week to harassing Mr Handlin, his wife and his sons with a barrage of phone calls, a number of which involved references to the allegations made against Mr Handlin at Sony.

On December 15, Clapham called Mr Handlin and said “I want you to say sorry for what you did to those Sony people” and “Go on (and) say sorry and say you are a naughty boy, you fat f..k”, before the call was terminated, according to police facts.

Minutes later, he called Mr Handlin’s wife Janice and told her to “tell Denis he is a naughty boy”.

He called Mr Handlin twice more but the ex-Sony boss didn’t pick up.

Handlin with the Veronicas in 2014. Picture: Sony Music Australia

Handlin and Delta Goodrem. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Patrick Handlin was married to Ella Clapham from 2014-16 and wed Australian singer Samantha Jade in 2022. He was stood down as vice-president of artists and repertoire at Sony Music Australia the day after his father was fired in June 2021.

The Weekend Australian does not suggest Patrick Handlin has done anything wrong.

Clapham’s many harassing phone calls, all made on a blocked number, occurred over two days in December.

Police suspect he obtained the mobile phone numbers of Denis Handlin, wife Janice and their sons, Denny, Patrick, Michael and James – listed as the victims in the matter – from Ella Clapham, according to documents tendered to the court.

Steven Clapham.

Samantha Jade and Patrick Handlin. Picture: Instagram

On December 20, Clapham attempted to call Janice, Denis, James, Michael and Denny, before Patrick picked up the phone.

“Hi daddy’s little b--ch boy,” he said. “Who do you think it is, you little b--ch? You’re daddy’s little b--ch boy and you lost your only job you’ll ever have because daddy was naughty and you’re a little b--ch boy.” The call was terminated.

Ten minutes later, Clapham called back and Patrick recorded the comments. “Say it with me. I’m a b--ch boy,” Patrick Handlin recorded him as saying. “You’ve got no friends. Because you’re daddy’s b--ch. You need to say it because daddy isn’t in charge.” The call was terminated.

Clapham called right back, and Patrick answered and was told he was “f--king stupid … to keep answering”.

“But because you do, I’ll keep telling you … You are a daddy’s little b--ch boy … Daddy was a naughty boy and you should call daddy and say you are a naughty boy daddy and you got me fired from my only job.”

Denis Handlin went to Hornsby police station after the first few calls and reported the incidents, before telling his family what had happened, according to the police facts. After the second set of calls, police were contacted again.

On January 5, police attended Clapham’s home and arrested him. He declined to be interviewed and was charged with using a carriage service to harass.

Amy Shark, Handlin and Conrad Sewell at the 2020 Queensland Music Awards.

Police later issued a provisional apprehended violence order for Clapham, to protect Denis Handlin. It is not clear what led Clapham to call Mr Handlin, his wife and their sons on those two days in December.

Clapham and Denis Handlin both declined to comment.

Clapham is now subject to bail conditions including not assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating any members of the Handlin family.

A nine-page internal Sony Music report into Handlin, obtained by the ABC in 2021 and authored by executives, alleged he was abusive towards staff, “cannot treat women as equals” and “purposely set out to destroy people for power” and fired staff for their physical appearance, being pregnant or not smiling at him.