Sam Avinash Chinthakinda in court for harassing emails

A Queanbeyan software engineer has faced court after sending a slew of harassing emails to an ex-partner, including firing out 78 messages over a six-day period.

Sam Avinash Chinthakinda in court for harassing emails. Photo: Hannah Farrow

A Googong man has been convicted after a sustained campaign of harassment and stalking against his former partner.

Sam Avinash Chinthakinda, 38, pleaded guilty to stalking and intimidation and using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend after his relationship broke down earlier this year.

Queanbeyan Local Court heard that Chinthakinda met the victim through a matchmaking website in January.

The two met in February and were in an on-again, off-again relationship for three months.

Sam Avinash Chinthakinda in court for harassing emails. Photo: Hannah Farrow

According to police facts, the relationship became increasingly controlling with the victim eventually breaking it off in April.

Documents state he pressured the victim to isolate from her housemates and engaged in coercive behaviour throughout the relationship.

After the victim ended the relationship on April 21 and blocked Chinthakinda’s phone number, the harassment escalated, according to court documents.

She began receiving repeated no-caller-ID calls towards the end of April.

According to police facts, the calls were unwanted and harassing in nature and the pattern continued almost daily until May 3.

The court heard that on May 9, Chinthakinda appeared at the victim’s residence, a three-hour drive from his home.

He suggested to the victim that they should get back together to which the victim refused.

Despite being told to leave multiple times, Chinthakinda refused until eventually leaving the premises.

In the days that followed, the software engineer used WhatsApp to contact the victim through family members, including his aunt and sister.

He also contacted the victim’s mother on May 14, requesting her to organise a meet up.

On May 18, Chinthakinda contacted one of the victims’ friends in a further attempt to arrange a meeting with her.

Concerned for her safety, the victim contacted police, who issued a formal direction for Chinthakinda to cease all communication.

Despite this, the accused continued emailing the victim.

On May 20, he sent a message to the victim including a screenshot of the police warning, writing: “This is the punishment you give me for loving you and imagining a life with you.”

“After all I have done nothing wrong to you except giving my everything to you … Thank you very much for this reward.”

The man also stated: “You’ll never hear from me again even if I die as well.”

However, a week later on May 27 at approximately 2am, the victim did indeed hear from Chinthakinda again.

He then proceeded to email the victim 78 times over a six-day period.

The victim attended a local police station on June 3 before Chinthakinda was arrested and charged.

Magistrate Clisdell said Chinthakinda “didn’t take no for an answer.”

“The harassment was extreme in terms of contact,” the Magistrate said.

Chinthakinda was convicted and fined $1,500 and issued a nine-month community correction order.

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Originally published as Sam Avinash Chinthakinda in court for harassing emails