Magistrates Court Victoria expected to review procedure over alleged IVO bungle in Geelong

An internal probe is expected to be launched into an alleged court privacy breach involving a violent convicted predator just days after he was released from prison.

A woman claims a mistake was made at the Geelong Magistrates Court that put her in danger. Picture: Brad Fleet

An internal probe could be launched into an alleged court privacy breach involving a violent convicted predator just days after he was released from prison.

This masthead can reveal Magistrates Court Victoria (MCV) is looking into how one of the state’s worst stalkers – unable to be named for legal reasons – was successful in obtaining and amending an intervention orderagainst a former victim, using two separate names in a Geelong court, fresh off serving an almost year-long jail term for stalking and harassing her.

The man, who has spent more than a decade behind bars for relentless and terrifying offences against multiple victims, is well-known to police and has previously shot at and threatened to kill women.

As the country deals with a domestic violence epidemic, this masthead has spoken to the alleged victim, Jane, who has slammed the court saying the bungle “could have cost me my life”.

“How this has been able to happen is beyond disturbing,” she said.

Documents, seen by the Geelong Advertiser, show the serial stalker submitted two forms on the same day using different names.

Both orders were granted.

Jane, not her real name, said she initially thought a police officer serving her the order was joking just days after the man, whose terrifying pursuit of her resulted in a prison sentence, walked from jail.

“I broke down in tears, I could not believe it,” she said.

“I thought it was a sick joke.

“I called my case worker and she asked if I was sure it was a real policeman.”

The woman likened her former partner to “Dirty John” – US conman and stalker John Meehan —on whom a TV and podcast series was based.

John Meehan from the Dirty John podcast. Picture: California Department of Corrections

MCV did not respond to questions when asked about the alleged bungle, and did not confirm or deny an internal investigation was underway.

Jane, who lives in emergency accommodation, wears a smart-watch with a “panic switch” and must call her family violence support team twice a day for her own safety, said the courts were not doing enough “to keep people like this locked up”.

It comes as an inquiry is launched into access to family violence orders for victim-survivors in the family law system, following a referral from Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs is seeking submissions around providing victim-survivors with better access, according to committee chair and MP Susan Templeman.

“This inquiry has a narrow focus on what we can do at a federal level to make applying for orders easier for victims already negotiating the family law system and how we can make those orders more effective in keeping families safe,” she said.

Originally published as Magistrates Court Victoria expected to review procedure over alleged IVO bungle in Geelong