Urban Terrorism !

We are very proud of the " freedom of speech " law that applies in Australia but we need to remember that it does have limits.  When we are angry with our boss it is all too easy to sit at the computer and send off a few nasty emails to appease that anger.

What amounted to a vendetta saw a woman who had been employed as a " Human Rescources " manager appear in the NSW District court to answer charges that the judge described as  having  a " significant and long lasting " impact on her former boss.

It seems that this antagonism developed while she worked at the firm and she started sending SMS messages using software that obscured the senders phone number.  She was accused of being the perpetrator, but denied it and was fired in 2018.

This woman then targetted her boss's mother and husband by sending spoof messages that suggested her husband was making sexual advaces to another woman.  Messages were also sent to both employees and customers of the firm, suggesting her old boss was making sexual advances to a client.

These messages became a serious tirade.  They included threats that included " I know where you live " and a suggestion that a " bomb was ticking away on your doorstep ".   The damage and the harm caused was " substantial " as was remarked by the judge.

There were repercussions.  She received a three year prison sentence for that campaign against her boss and another three years for similar action against another woman. A two year non parole period will apply to these sentences.

The charges levelled against her and to which she pleaded guilty were " using a carriage servcice to menace ansd harass multiple victims, and using a cariage service to make a threat ".

That is perhaps a timely warning against the use of threatening or abusive emails. The software that disguises the sender can be penetrated and the same law that apply to terrorism applies to the making of threats.  That is a serious crime and substantial prison sentences apply.

It should also be remembered that something sent in jest may be taken seriously by the receiving party. What one person sees as a joke may become a threat in the eyes of the receiver and can rebound if the matter is referred to the police.

In this matter settled in court it appears that the sender developed a penchant for serious use of emails to carry on her spite over a period of time.  The length of this campaign contributed to the degree of harm caused.

A good reason to pause before tapping that " send " button  !