A Tasmanian man who filmed a woman performing a sex act with a live brown trout has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Ashley David Hallam pleaded guilty to making or reproducing a bestiality product and possessing a bestiality product in relation to the viral incident that occurred in 2022 or early 2023.
The graphic footage, which showed a woman lying in a boat while a man held the fish against her genitals, prompted a police investigation after it spread widely online.
In the Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday, Magistrate Marica Duvnjak described Hallam’s actions as “serious” and “depraved”, as reported by ACM.
“The conduct appeared to show disregard for the welfare of the animal in question,” she said.
Hallam received a five-month prison sentence, wholly suspended for 18 months, and must complete 75 hours of community service as part of an 18-month community corrections order.
The court heard that charges against the woman involved in the video had been dropped earlier this year, which Hallam’s defence lawyer argued raised questions of fairness.
“The DPP made the decision not to contest charges against the co-defendant, but continued them against my client Mr Hallam,” the defence lawyer told the court.
“The seriousness of the offending, as stated by the prosecutor, is somewhat undermined by that decision.”
However, Magistrate Duvnjak noted she had no information about why prosecutors discontinued their case against the woman.
The defence also claimed Hallam had only sent the video to six friends and never intended for it to be widely shared, an argument rejected by the magistrate.
Hallam’s lawyer told the court the publicity surrounding the case had devastated his client’s life.
“His reputation in the [fishing] industry is ruined … and he has limited funds available,” the lawyer said.
The magistrate acknowledged Hallam’s guilty plea and expressions of remorse before delivering the suspended sentence.
