A Sydney truck driver has been slapped with a hefty fine for sending an offensive religious text message to a North Wollongong woman.
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Stephen Ronald Lewis, also known as Ibrahim Lewis, was ordered to pay a $1500 fine under Commonwealth law for sending a bizarre text "warning" to the woman - a random stranger - about a supposed culture of paedophilia and sexual sacrifices within Freemason society.
The hundred-plus word message, which also included offensive language, was sent to the unsuspecting recipient after 8pm on June 14, last year.
The woman reported the text to Wollongong police the next day, after a short text exchange with Lewis asking him to refrain from messaging again.
The 48-year-old appeared in Port Kembla Local Court on Tuesday charged with one count of using a carriage service to offend.
During sentencing submissions the court heard the text was completely out of character for the Mona Vale truckie, who was hard-working and well respected by his peers.
Lawyer Fouad Awada said the text was not violent or intended to be offensive, but rather a "clumsy" attempt by Lewis to share his beliefs.
Magistrate McGowan ordered him to be of good behaviour for 12 months and suggested he try alternative means of spreading his "religious views" in the future.