A Canberra man who threatened to release a pornographic video of his former partner unless she paid him $20,000 has been sentenced to nine months' prison.
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The 47-year-old former federal public servant - who has not been named to protect the victim's identity - appeared at the ACT Supreme Court yesterday after pleading guilty to blackmail and stalking.
The court heard the explicit videos were made consensually but the offender threatened to release them when she ended the relationship.
According to documents tendered to the court, in October 2016 the offender told the victim via email the videos "were going viral" unless she agreed to pay him.
"I promise you Canberra will see this video." the offender said.
"If you want ownership of your porn so I can't sell it I want 20K.
"What's your reputation and dignity worth?"
Another email read: "You have until 9am u harlett or your porn is going viral".
On another occasion he left a copy of the video on her doorstep with a bottle of wine with a threat to put it in every mailbox.
The offender also bombarded the victim with texts and emails through December and came to her house uninvited.
Prosecutor David Swan said the conduct had a devastating effect on the victim.
He said the offender had not taken full responsibility, with a tendered report suggesting he had engaged in "victim blaming" by complaining the victim had not provided a good reason for their breakup.
Defence counsel Katrina Musgrove said while it did not negate his behaviour, at the time of the "revenge porn" conduct the offender felt he was receiving "mixed messages" from the victim about the status of their relationship.
"So what?" Justice Michael Elkaim said.
Ms Musgrove said the offender was sorry for his behaviour and wished to live a quiet life with his family when he is released, asking the judge to consider a suspended sentence.
Justice Elkaim said threat of breaching of the privacy of the relationship with the aim to cause significant embarrassment was serious conduct.
"[He] must remain in custody as a reflection of the unacceptable nature of his conduct," he said.
The offender will be eligible for release in May.
