Stan Grant: Charge against man who harassed the ABC presenter dropped on mental health grounds
A man who admitted harassing ex-ABC journalist Stan Grant online has been ordered not to contact the reporter after a charge was dropped on mental health grounds.
Michael Steven Davis, 41, faced one charge of using a carriage service to threaten serious harm after other charges were dropped earlier in the proceedings.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis on Thursday dismissed the remaining charges against Davis on the grounds of his mental illness, placing him under the care of a clinical psychologist for two years.
He also issued a two-year detention order, ordering Davis to avoid any contact with Grant or his partner, ABC sports journalist Tracey Holmes.
A special order was issued to prevent Davis from using social media to contact either of the couples.
A man who admitted harassing ex-ABC journalist Stan Grant online has been ordered not to contact the reporter after a charge was dropped on mental health grounds.
The magistrate issued a two-year arrest warrant ordering Davis to avoid any contact with Grant or his partner, ABC sports journalist Tracey Holmes (pictured)
The 41-year-old was present at Downing Center Local Court in Sydney for the sentencing.
Davis’ lawyer previously told the court that his client planned to meet with Grant and apologize for the abuse.
Grant cited racist abuse as one of the reasons for stepping down as host of ABC show Q+A, using his last program in May this year to speak directly to his abusers.
“To those who abused me and my family, I would like to say: if your goal was to hurt me, then you succeeded,” he said at the time.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis on Thursday dismissed the remaining charges against Michael Davis (pictured) on the grounds of his mental illness, placing him under the care of a clinical psychologist for two years.
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