Grace Tame’s abuser wants more time to answer harassment case due to ‘medical episode’

Grace Tame’s abuser Nicolaas Ockert Bester says he’s suffered a “medical episode” in recent weeks that will delay his online harassment court case against the former Australian of the Year.

Grace Tame’s abuser Nicolaas Ockert Bester (left) with his lawyer Todd Kovacic. Picture: Amber Wilson

Grace Tame’s abuser Nicolaas Ockert Bester says he’s suffered a “medical episode” in recent weeks that will delay his online harassment court case.

Bester, 70, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday for an expected hearing after a number of previous delays earlier this year, but his lawyer Todd Kovacic asked for an adjournment.

Mr Kovacic said in recent weeks, Bester had suffered a medical episode – but further details were not aired during the brief court hearing.

The disgraced former Collegiate teacher has pleaded not guilty to three counts of menacing, harassing, or causing offence to Tame, the 2021 Australian of the Year, via Twitter.

Present in court on Thursday were Grace Tame, her partner Max Heerey, and a number of other supporters.

Grace Tame and Max Heerey.

According to court documents, Tasmania Police has alleged Bester committed the offences by making public social media posts on Twitter “in relation to and directed to Grace Tame”.

It is alleged the offences were committed on April 27, July 21 and August 28 last year.

Tame reported the allegations to Tasmania Police in 2022, with the convicted abuser’s Twitter account, @nicobester3, since suspended.

Bester groomed and repeatedly sexually abused Tame in 2010, when he was a 58-year-old teacher and she a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

He was sent back to prison in 2016 when he made child exploitation material by bragging on Facebook that his abuse of Tame was “awesome”.

Tame came to prominence through the “Let Her Speak” campaign, overturning Tasmanian laws preventing sexual abuse survivors from publicly sharing their stories.

Outside court on Thursday, Bester – who is on bail – did not respond to questions about what medical condition he had suffered.

Magistrate Chris Webster adjourned the case until June 22.

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