A forty-six-year-old man currently on bail while allegations of revenge porn are being investigated has been refused bail after twice breaching a Non-Molestation Order preventing contacting with the victim who is a former partner.
Alan Robert Kerr from Ballymacormick Road, Dromore, County Down is accused of committing the offences on December 3 and 4.
He appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court where a detective confirmed the charges could be connected.
He explained the complainant contacted police after Kerr put pictures of her house on his TikTok profile as well as an image of her face with male genitalia drawn on it.
She was alerted when Kerr’s mother texted her saying: “Alan sent a message on his TikTok for you and he says you’ll want to see it.”
The complainant observed he had changed his profile picture multiple times, in one instance using an image of her house and in another of a double bed from her home, as well as her face with “the crude drawing.”
The following day the complainant again contacted police as Kerr had parked outside her house, and attempted to speak to her.
She had just arrived home when he approached stating: “I want to talk one last time. It’s all over now.”
The complainant refused and advised she was calling police, after which he left.
Around half-an-hour later she received six missed calls from his mobile phone, and a number of texts stating he wanted to speak to her.
When arrested he made full admissions.
District Judge Anne Marshall noted Kerr wrote a vulgar comment about the complainant in one of his TikTok messages.
It was disclosed he is subject to a suspended sentence imposed earlier this year at Craigavon Crown Court for indecent child imagery and extreme pornography.
He also has previous convictions for harassment and breaching Non-Molestation Orders, which related to a former partner.
Opposing bail the detective cited a risk of witness interference having breached the order on two consecutive days “by contacting the complainant and producing intimidating images. Police really do not believe bail conditions with stop him and the complainant is fearful of what he will do next.”
A defence solicitor said his client has been on bail since November 4 but not charged and it was around the time the Non-Molestation Order was granted.
“The motive was to try to have a conversation with the injured party and clearly that’s a breach of conditions which he hasn’t sought to resile from,” said the defence.
“He made full admissions and accepted he was wrong. He realises he isn’t going to have any further contact with the injured party. This is a relationship breakdown which my client is struggling to deal with.”
The defence conceded the incident was “unsavoury” but stressed when the complainant refused to talk to him “he walked away and didn’t take it any further or attempt to force his way into her property”.
Urging bail to be granted, the defence stressed Kerr would abide by any conditions imposed.
However Judge Marshall refused stating: “There are absolutely no conditions I can think of to manage the risk of reoffending. The defendant is under a suspended sentence for imagery matters some of which appear to be of children. Since that he’s managed to be under investigation for revenge porn and now breaches of the Non-Molestation Order.
“I’ve seen images of the injured party’s house and one of her bed with very unpleasant and foul language being used. He has relevant convictions. Unsavoury is an understatement.”
Kerr was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link later this month.
