A young woman was left devastated when she learned from her ex that a video had been shared on social media showing her having a threesome with two rugby players, a court has heard.
Trent Gerard Pickering, 31, a former rugby player for Taranaki Development in New Zealand, and his accomplice, a representative player whose name has been temporarily withheld, were serving their sentences in the New Plymouth District Court this week.
The incident took place on August 5 last year at a house in New Plymouth, a city on New Zealand’s North Island, after a night of drinking.
Pickering, his accomplice, the victim in his twenties who cannot be named, and a friend of hers had engaged in sexual activity together, according to the Crown’s summary of facts it states that
The victim then went to the bathroom to take a shower and was followed by Pickering and the accomplice, the new zealand herald reported.
The three engaged in mutual sexual acts in the shower and Pickering began filming the encounter with his mate’s phone.
The video shows the accomplice grinning at the camera, waving a “let go” sign and giving Pickering a high five.
The victim could not see this and did not give permission for the filming, the court ruled.
Trent Gerard Pickering, 31, was convicted of filming and sharing a video of a threesome with the victim and his accomplice
The following day, Pickering messaged the accomplice asking for the video, before posting it to a Snapchat group featuring the region’s top rugby players.
Pickering texted the victim: “I have another friend who is much better than last night and we can get you.”
The court was told the term meant that several men had sex with one woman, one after the other.
The video was a talking point at a rugby party that evening, attended by many members of the Taranaki rugby community.
Pickering’s accomplice was present at the party and the report states the video was widely discussed, shown and shared, the court heard.
The threesome between the woman, Pickering and his accomplice was recorded without her knowledge and uploaded to a Snapchat group featuring prominent rugby players (stock image)
It is known how many people have seen the video.
Two days after the incident, the victim was made aware of the video by her ex-boyfriend. A friend in Perth had seen the video and told him about it.
She texted Pickering and the accomplice, both of whom denied the footage existed.
In messages the men subsequently shared with each other, they encouraged each other to continue to deny the video existed and to delete screenshots and videos from their phones.
After the victim warned the men that they had to confess, the accomplice contacted Pickering.
“Hahaha, stupid bitch,” Pickering replied.
‘Nobody has the g. Not even us, we are all good (sic).’
A few days later, Pickering sent a message to his accomplice.
“Yo g. We ain’t gettin’ caught, we all good. F*** that whore,” he texted.
The accomplice responded with “Yo” and a smiling face emoji.
At that point, the victim had the video and shared it with police.
The two men were later arrested and charged.
Pickering and his accomplice were sentenced this week at the New Plymouth District Court
Both pleaded guilty to charges of making an intimate visual recording and publishing an intimate visual recording.
During the duo’s verdict, the woman gave a moving victim statement describing how violated, angry, betrayed and ashamed she felt.
She was so traumatized by the ordeal that she fled to Australia to start a new life.
“My reputation there is tarnished,” she wrote.
Pickering was sentenced to 15 months in prison, commuted to eight months of home confinement, and ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution for emotional distress.
His accomplice was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months in prison, with $1,500 in restitution.
“A clear message must be sent that this kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable,” said Judge Gregory Hikaka.
‘What I find worrying is that the deterrent message is lost if dismissal is granted without conviction.’