“Reclaiming power”: Grace Tame reveals of years of threats and harrassment

Grace Tame has revealed she’s dealt with 12 years of threats and harassment behind closed doors, as the name of the man who abused her resurfaces online.

Child sexual abuse survivor and advocate Grace Tame has alleged she’s dealt with continued threats and harassment from the man who abused her, after the convicted paedophile allegedly used Twitter to target Ms Tame.

The 2021 Australian of the year took to Twitter on Monday, providing screenshots of tweets from the Twitter handle NicoBester3, which is believed to be that of convicted child sex offender Nicolaas Bester.

“Here it comes! Only 4 weeks to go!! The good old come-uppance on its way.....oo.ferrett.oo @ hotmail...” a tweet from the account on August 28 said.

Ms Tame said she’d dealt with threats and harassment behind closed doors from the man who abused her and others for a long time

“This has been the reality for 12 years now, behind closed doors for my family and me,” she said in her thread.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 09: Grace Tame addresses the media at the National Press Club on February 09, 2022 in Canberra, Australia. 2021 Australian of the year, Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins, advocates for survivors of sexual assault attended the National Press Club together. Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised directly to Brittany Higgins as parliament resumed this week. A formal acknowledgment of past bullying, harassment and sexual assault to recognise all those who have faced harm within Commonwealth workplaces was also delivered. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

“Here he is, the twice-convicted child sex offender, referring to my childhood email, which very few people know, in place of my name.

“It was the login to my old Facebook he and I communicated on.

Ms Tame said that the four weeks was a reference to the date of her book’s release.

While it’s been a largely positive experience in the public eye, and I’m eternally grateful for the unflinching support, it might come as a shock, even to some close to me, that I am still dealing with open threats and harassment from the man who abused me and others. pic.twitter.com/vlPC1tF5zt

— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) August 29, 2022

Ms Tame said she had reported the tweets to police.

“These threats clearly constitute a federal offence and contravene Twitter’s child exploitation policy, which states that it is prohibited to contribute to the re-victimisation and re-traumatisation of a child sexual abuse survivor,” Ms Tame wrote.

The account in question was still active on Monday night.

Ms Tame said the experience was one many other survivors would be able to relate to.

“This might not be the ideal platform to address this situation, but if not here, and if not now, then I ask, where and when?” Ms Tame wrote.

“This is an act of reclaiming my power against a predator operating in plain sight.

“This man seems to think he is still relevant, and can maintain control over me. This man who groomed and abused me when I was a child. He has known me since I was 14.”

Ms Tame’s book, The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner: A Memoir, is expected to be released on September 27.

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