A Newcastle man has been jailed after he threatened to send intimate photos of his ex-partner to her friends and family, then repeatedly ignored an abuse order by contacting her.
Ethan Henshaw, 31, appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Friday afternoon, where he was told what had happened to him. He admitted sending his ex six videos and six photos of her performing sexual acts, then threatening to leak them to those close to her.
Henshaw, dressed in prison uniform, watched via video link from Silverwater Prison as he learned he was to be locked up for a series of incidents that occurred between October and February which had left his victim anxious, stressed and frightened.
Henshaw was on bail for the matters he was convicted of on Friday, but the court was told he had been remanded in custody in May on unrelated charges.
The car salesman pleaded guilty to threatening to distribute an intimate image without his consent, and to three types of AVOs that were put in place to protect his ex-girlfriend, who cannot be identified.
The court was told the incident occurred after their relationship had ended.
In October last year, Henshaw became angry with her after an argument and sent her six photos and six videos of her performing sexual acts from their time together.
The court was told she then contacted one of Henshaw’s friends and asked to speak to him.
Ethan Henshaw has been jailed after attempting to blackmail a woman. Photo: Supplied
Henshaw then messaged the victim back through his friend, indicating he “may or may not forward the images” to her family and friends, the court was told.
The woman reported the incident to police and was arrested at his Boolaroo home.
While Henshaw maintained he never intended to release the footage, Judge Greg Grogin said on Friday that Henshaw “announced” it was a “possibility”.
An AVO was set up, which prevented him from contacting her. He did send her a friend request on Snapchat and a text message via the social media application.
“I worry about you, I still care about you, I never stopped caring and I never will, no matter what,” the message read.
The message also referred to the “implications” and risks he took by contacting her.
“This shows that he knew he was breaking the law when he sent that message. He knew he was at risk of prosecution,” Grogin said.
The court was told that Henshaw further breached the AVO when he was found in a park next to the woman’s address. When approached by police, he claimed he was simply walking his dog.
The car salesman pleaded guilty to threatening to distribute an intimate image without consent, as well as to three breaches of an AVO set up to protect his ex-girlfriend, who cannot be identified
“Of all the parks in all the streets in NSW, he happened to be walking his dog 100 metres from (the victim’s) house,” Mr Grogin said.
Henshaw also tried to contact her via Telegram, sending her 37 messages and making nine phone calls.
“She was so scared and upset that she had to take a day off work,” said Grogin, who noted that the woman was alarmed by his “erratic” behavior.
Henshaw’s lawyer argued that the car salesman could be given community service and avoid going to prison.
Henshaw wrote a letter to the court expressing his “remorse” and “disgust” at his actions.
However, Mr Grogin said Henshaw had an ‘obsession’ with the victim and had broken the trust that existed in their previous relationship.
He said the community needed to be protected and Henshaw held ‘accountable’, adding that there was no other appropriate punishment than imprisonment.
Henshaw was sentenced to 15 months in prison, nine months of which were without the possibility of parole.
Because he has already served time in prison, he is eligible for release on February 15.