AFL player escapes conviction for revenge porn threat

Tarryn Thomas has been spared a conviction for threatening to distribute intimate videos. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas has walked free from court without a criminal conviction for threatening to distribute intimate videos of his former partner.

The 23-year-old was initially charged with threatening to distribute an intimate image of another person, but this was downgraded by prosecutors to using a carriage service to harass someone.

The footballer, who also goes by the surname Trindall, faced Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on Tuesday where full details of the offence were publicly aired for the first time.

In July 2022, Thomas accused his ex-girlfriend of being intimate with another person while they were speaking to each other via Instagram messages, Magistrate Julie Grainger told the court.

The pair began arguing, exchanging a number of messages, and the woman said something about Thomas' mother which he took offence to.

Thomas threatened to share intimate video recordings taken of the two of them and the woman believed he had distributed those clips. 

But Thomas did not distribute the videos and has taken full responsibility for his offending in the year since.

His lawyer Sally Vardy said at the time of offending Thomas was not coping with the sudden loss of his maternal grandmother and was dealing with family issues.

"It is a reactive response from Mr Trindall in relation to an immediate message sent by the complainant," she said.

"He received that as a slight against mum and he reacts."

He accepted his behaviour was unacceptable and has taken part in offending programs, social media training and engaged a psychiatrist, Ms Vardy said.

He has also been working part-time cleaning for an Aboriginal start-up business and has returned to playing for North Melbourne football club.

Ms Grainger said the Instagram messages were "harassing, inappropriate, unacceptable" but acknowledged Thomas had taken responsibility for it.

"All of the great work Mr Trindall has done in the last 12 months is for him to learn better ways to deal with conflict, heartache and disappointment, breakdowns of relationships, manage his own emotions, so that in the future he won't respond in such a manner," she said.

She agreed to grant Thomas a diversion, which means he will escape a criminal conviction, and he was ordered to pay $1000 to charity.

"You won't have a searchable criminal record, and hopefully this will be your last appearance in court," Ms Grainger said. 

His charge will be withdrawn upon payment to the court fund, which must be made by August 15.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store