Jail for man who harassed ex on Facebook

A man was sentenced to jail in the Brisbane District Court last Thursday after he pleaded guilty to seven charges related to the harassment of two women from previous relationships.

The charges included making threats to his ex-girlfriend through Facebook.

Kenneth Thomson, 26, pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, perverting the course of justice and using a “carriage service” [internet and telephone] to harass, as well as four counts of breaching a domestic violence order.

Judge Katherine McGinness sentenced Thompson to a total of two years imprisonment for the seven charges, but took account of the 227 days he had already served and ordered his immediate release on parole.

Prosecutor Ms Carly Whelan told the court the charges were related to offences against Thomson’s ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend, both of whom had domestic violence orders out against Thompson.

Ms Whelan said the charge of dangerous driving referred to an incident on the Gateway Bridge in September 2009 when Thomson began tailgating his ex-wife’s car, forcing her to change lanes and run a red light to avoid him.

At that time, Mr Thompson threatened both his ex-wife and another passenger with a baseball bat, and hit the car three times while the car was stopped.

On another occasion, Thompson confronted his ex-wife in a car park, where he jumped in front of her car, threatened her and broke a headlight on her vehicle.

Later that year, Thompson threatened his ex-girlfriend through Facebook and over the telephone in a series of harrassing calls which led Thompson to make a false statement to police implicating his cousin and blaming him for the calls.

Thompson’s lawyer, Mr Timothy Ryan, said his client’s life had spiralled out of control around the time of the offences due to the break up of his marriage and cannabis abuse.

He said since then Thompson had turned his life around, was drug-free and wanted to return to the way his life had been before.

“He intends to go and live with his mother, and seek drug and alcohol counselling,” he said.

Mr Ryan said Thompson’s early guilty plea was a reflection of his regret and his eagerness to comply with the law.

“It is a plea not only out of co-operation with the administration, but out of remorse,” he said.

Judge McGinness said the crimes were clearly designed to frighten and intimidate the two women, but said the early guilty pleas should be taken into account.

“Hopefully, as your counsel submits, you have had sufficient time to reflect,” she said.

Thompson also had his driving licence disqualified for nine months.

Leave A Comment

News by Email