A Wollongong man who threatened to circulate intimate images of his ex-partner online after the breakdown of their 14-year relationship has narrowly avoided time behind bars.
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Nebojsa Milenkovic repeatedly menaced the victim by threatening to send photos of her taken during their relationship to friends, family, strangers and even potential employers, telling her "I'm going to ruin you".
Milenkovic pleaded guilty to charges of threatening to distribute an intimate image and intimidation in Wollongong Local Court last month.
On Friday, Magistrate Claire Girotto sentenced him to a four-month intensive corrections order, which will allow him to serve his sentence in the community.
"The threaten to distribute intimate image is the matter that concerns me the most," she said.
"There needs to be a statement from courts that this is just not on, its no way to treat anyone, especially not someone you were close to.
I'm going to show everyone the videos....oh yeah, everyone is going to see them 'cause you wanted to run my name through the dirt, now you're going to know how it feels and we'll see how you like it.
"A submission was made on your behalf that you never intended to distribute the image, but you're not charged with that.
"You had the means to distribute and you had actual photos to distribute - the victim must have been terrified.
Documents tendered in court said Milenkovic and the woman split in 2018 but remained in contact for family reasons.
She said Milenkovic became "aggressive, belligerent and threatening" towards her in the following months.
The pair exchanged approximately 50 emails in the 24 hours between March 4 and 5 this year.
Some of the messages were amicable, however others saw Milenkovic deliver a "tirade of abuse" towards the victim and threaten to distribute intimate images of her to "a multitude of different parties including friends, family members, neighbours, acquaintances, as well as legal services and any potential employers".
In one email, Milenkovic wrote "I'm going to show everyone the videos....oh yeah, everyone is going to see them 'cause you wanted to run my name through the dirt, now you're going to know how it feels and we'll see how you like it".
In another, he said "that's it, squirm you f--king worm, they are backed up on hundreds of devices".
The woman did not report the threats to police until late May, saying she lived in a "constant state of fear" and was terrified Milenkovic would carry out his threats.
Milenkovic was arrested on May 29 and charged.