Sex coercion alleged with covert recording

• Published date: 18 May 2021
• Author: Rob Kidd
• Date: 18 May 2021
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times: Web Edition Articles (New Zealand)

The 39-year-old defendant is on trial at the Dunedin District Court accused of three counts of sexual conduct with consent induced by threats, two of assaulting a female and one of attempted sexual violation.

He pleaded guilty to making an intimate visual recording at the outset of yesterday's hearing before a jury of seven men and five women.

The pair matched on dating app Tinder in May last year and met for coffee within a few days.

The complainant, in a police interview played for the jury, said the defendant "seemed like a really nice friendly guy".

His style of communication by phone, however, was "a bit intense", she said, referring to his repeated calls and attempts to arrange another meeting.

On May 25, they spoke by video chat and things became sexual.

The two conducted an intimate exchange for 49 minutes but unbeknown to the complainant the man was recording the footage using a special app.

Counsel Anne Stevens QC said her client later admitted the recording and reassured the woman that it would be used solely for his own pleasure.

The complainant, though, told police the recording was held over her and ultimately used as a form of blackmail.

"You're going to be a good girl and do exactly what I tell you," the defendant allegedly said.

If she did not, he would send the lewd video to her friends, boss and workmates, he allegedly told her.

After incessant "badgering", the court heard, she agreed to go to the man's home on May 29.

"I felt scared and trapped," she said.

She pulled over on the way and sent the address to a friend in case "anyone's looking for a body".

She arrived at the house at 7.30pm and said the next seven hours were a strange mix of friendly conversation, watching movies and sexual assaults.

Repeatedly, she said, the defendant raised the existence of the video and told her she needed to do as she was told to ensure it was deleted.

The man allegedly told her he had...