Grace Tame’s abuser Nicolaas Bester faces court over alleged Twitter harassment

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame’s childhood abuser has faced a Hobart court for allegedly harassing her via social media.

Nicolaas Ockert Bester, 70, was in October charged with three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

The charges are in relation to public social media posts on Twitter related to, and directed to, Tame on 27 April, 21 July and 28 August this year.

Bester appeared in Hobart magistrates court on Monday and did not enter a plea to the charges.

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His bail was continued and he will next appear on 31 January. Bester didn’t speak in court or to media outside the building.

Tasmania police in October charged Bester after a search warrant assisted by Australian federal police.

Police said his Twitter account had been suspended by the social media giant.

Bester was in 2011 sentenced to two years and 10 months in jail for abusing Tame, who was 15 at time, and for possessing child exploitation material.

Bester, who was a teacher at the high school Tame attended, was aged 58 at the time.

Tame has advocated for sexual abuse survivors and their right to be heard and was named Australian of the Year in 2021.