Mackay man pleads guilty to stalking, attempting to pervert the course of justice

Bestiality and blackmail charges were dropped against a ‘narcissistic’ Mackay man who threatened to make public ‘compromising’ photos he had of his former partner after their break up. Read what happened.

A “narcissistic” Mackay man who had been accused of shocking offences in a dog sex extortion case involving his former girlfriend had bestiality and blackmail charges dropped before his matters were finalised.

The 33 year old spent about 5.5 months in custody following his arrest in 2020 before he was granted supreme court bail.

Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said during the short relationship with his former partner the man “came into possession of compromising videos” and was told her father had abused her.

The court heard after their break up and after the woman was placed on a temporary protection order, he called, emailed and messaged using “various tactics” to get her to withdraw the statement.

“He threatened multiple times to release the compromising videos of her,” Ms O’Rourke said.

“He created Instagram accounts referencing the content of the video and he threatened to tell people about what her father had done to her.”

The court heard he also harassed, continually contacted her and tried to entice her back into a relationship by offering her money.

“There was 12 hours worth of calls, 170 emails and 70 messages,” Ms O’Rourke said, adding the man blamed the victim when police spoke to him.

“That’s just a continuation of his poor conduct,” Judge Julie Dick said.

“He has to get over himself really.”

The man pleaded guilty in Mackay District Court to attempting to pervert the course of justice, stalking, threatening to distribute intimate images or visual recording and breaching a domestic violence order.

The man had previously been discharged of the bestiality charges and extortion charges in 2021.

“The offending was protracted with numerous attempts to pervert the course of justice in what can only be described as a form of blackmail designed to humiliate the (woman),” Ms O’Rourke said.

Barrister for the man Kim Bryson, instructed by Fisher Dore Lawyers, highlighted the fact the man had already spent time in custody, had not offended while on bail and his “substantial efforts at his own rehabilitation” including attending 31 counselling sessions.

“The court would be satisfied that there is no requirement for any further term of actual imprisonment,” Ms Bryson said, pushing for a wholly suspended jail term.

The court heard the man was supporting a close family member dealing with cancer and volunteered at a support group for men and other charities.

The court heard he had excelled in work life, was a qualified tradesman and had a good job history.

“This was particularly nasty, this stalking, because it related to the tapes and threats,” Judge Dick said, labelling it a blot on his otherwise good history.

“Stop thinking about yourself so much. It’s really narcissistic behaviour.”

Judge Dick accepted the man had been proactive enough in his rehabilitation not to be placed on parole.

She jailed him for 18 months, partly suspended after time already served. Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Mackay man pleads guilty to stalking, attempting to pervert the course of justice