Jail for lurid texts, videos

A Clifton Springs man who constantly sent vile and degrading messages, and sexually explicit videos of himself to women he knew during a twoyear period, has been warned he is facing more than six months jail.

Fuelled by rampant drug use, Christian Barron, 31, sent hundreds of sexually explicit messages to five woman he knew, some begging them for sex, the Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday.

Bizarrely in one message the heavy ice user told a woman known to him that he was complicit in incest.

Police prosecutor Jacki Davis told the court Barron threatened in another message to release nude images of a woman known to him if she did not have sex with him.

The court also heard the man created fake social media accounts under the names of women known to him and well and truly exceeded the reserve and there were plenty of bidders keen for a piece of the action.

“We knew there was competition going in and that it would be pretty popular with a few bidders there,” Mr Gray said. “It went way above the price I was expecting which was pleasing, and it’s good to see there’s more confidence in the market.”

The property had been listused the accounts to send sexually explicit images of them to their family members.

The court was told Barron also sent sexually explicit images of a woman known to him, to her mother.

Leading Senior Constable Davis told the court it appeared Barron was expanding the circle of people he was sending the lurid messages and images to before his arrest in April.

“I would say he is a danger to the sexual safety of the public,” Senior Constable Davis said. She said the messages and creation of fake social media profiles represented a pattern of “continuous harassment”.

Barron’s lawyer Wendy ed with a quoted price guide of $475,000 to $522,000.

It last sold in 2006 for $230,000, according to CoreLogic data.

Set in the heart of Belmont on a 636sq m block, the residence is close to all the local action, including High St, Highton Village and the Barwon River. It has a light-filled living zone, fully renovated bathroom and split system heating and cooling. Gibbons said her client, who used up to a gram of ice a day, had been unable to offer a proper explanation for his offending.

“There were weeks during which he told me that it was disgusting what he had done,” Ms Gibbons said.

“He is unable to say why he involved himself in such bizarre offending. He is prepared to do anything and speak to anyone he can to address these issues.”

Barron pleaded guilty to multiple counts of using a carriage service to offend, and stalking.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie said Barron would be sentenced to more than six months in jail.

She ordered he be assessed for a behaviour change program and a community corrections order before his next court date on November 8.

Barron, who was remanded in custody, has served 107 days since his arrest.