A man who attempted to blackmail a teenager into continuing a sexual relationship with him and sent a photograph to the girl’s parents of her performing a sex act was handed a suspended sentence by a South Australian court.
Matt Owen Cowie pleaded guilty to the crimes of unlawful sexual intercourse and blackmail. The former charge was a result of the girl’s age (she was 16 at the time), the latter came after Cowie told the girl that he would publish photographs of her performing fellatio on him if she did not continue to see him after their relationship had ended.
What happened next is best described by Judge David Smith:
Unbeknown to her you set up a camera in her bedroom and videoed what took place. She discovered that you had been filming. She protested and you promised to delete the video. You recanted and on the following day you threatened to burn the video into a DVD and publish it to the complainant’s family and friends unless she agreed to continue the relationship.
After their relationship further soured, Cowie sent a photograph to the girl’s parents.
In his summary of victim impact, Judge David Smith commented:
I have read and had regard to the Victim Impact Statements of the complainant and her mother. What you did has had a traumatic effect on the complainant and her parents, particularly her mother. In particular, you have disrupted the complainant’s year 12 studies and her joy of life. For how long that will continue remains to be seen but this has occurred at a crucial time in her life. Sending that photograph to the complainant’s parents was a vile and vengeful act.
Cowie faced a maximum sentence of 18 years for blackmail and 10 years for unlawful sexual intercourse, however, Judge Smith saw fit to impose a suspended sentence, noting that he took into account Cowie’s youth at the time of offending (he was only two years older than the victim), and that he had expressed remorse, had no criminal history and was leading a productive life. The six-month prison term was entirely suspended and Cowie was placed on a $500 good behavior bond.
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