A former top sports star threatened to post a woman’s naked photos on her social media before sending images to the phone of the relative of the victim, a court has heard.
The man, who represented New Zealand at international level, cannot be named due to a suppression order.
He appeared in the District Court at New Plymouth on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to three representative charges of posting an intimate visual recording without consent.
The man repeatedly sent naked photos of the woman, along with insulting messages, despite her asking him to stop and delete the images, according to a police summary of facts,
He began sending the woman’s naked pictures, which were attained consensually, on May 23, along with a message that he had many photos of her that were ‘worth a share’ to her social media accounts.
A week later, he sent a naked photo of the woman to her relative’s phone but with the intention it would be seen by the woman and not the relative.
He also sent a message saying that he ‘loved the photo’, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Despite the woman asking him to stop and delete the images, the man kept sending naked photos of her, one with a message that read: ‘Shame you are a f***wit with nice t**s”.’
Between June 5 and June 8, the man sent more messages and on at least two occasions, more naked photos to the relative’s phone.
During that time the woman twice asked him to delete the images, telling the man that his actions were inappropriate.
He replied saying she should not have shared the photos with him.
District Court Judge Tony Greig ordered a pre-sentence report and referred the case to restorative justice
He warned the man he may soon be wearing an ankle monitor as a consequence of the offending.
Judge Greig added that both home and community detention will be considered as sentencing options.
The man’s name will be suppressed until his sentencing on November 28 under the current order.
Defence lawyer Nathan Bourke told the court that an application for permanent name suppression would likely be made.