The son of a Melbourne reality television star has been convicted of stalking and branded a bully for posting intimate pictures of a young woman on social media.
Lorenzo Schiavello, 20, the son of Real Housewives of Melbourne cast member Lydia Schiavello, was told by a Melbourne magistrate his offending was sinister, vicious and cowardly.
The charge arises from messages Schiavello sent to a woman in November that contained intimate photos of her that he later posted on social media without her permission.
Magistrate Andrew Capell told Schiavello in court on Wednesday sending the woman photos in messages was nasty and posting them on social media was "vicious and cowardly".
He told the East Melbourne man if it wasn't for his youth, early guilty plea, lack of prior offending and borderline personality disorder he would have jailed him immediately.
Instead, he imposed an 18-month community corrections order and warned Schiavello he faced jail if he breached any conditions.
"This is an extremely serious matter involving the public humiliation of another," Mr Capell said.
The actions of Schiavello, who was bullied as a child, were those of a young man who resorts to bullying when he doesn't get his own way, Mr Capell said.
"The bullied has become the bully."
Reading from a victim impact statement, Mr Capell said Schiavello's actions had left the young woman ashamed, embarrassed and emotionally devastated.
"You made her life a misery," he said.
He praised the woman for the strength she showed in standing up to Schiavello.
Mr Capell said a message must be sent by the courts that social media must not be used to denigrate or humiliate other people.
However, he noted that because of Schiavello's borderline personality disorder, he was not an appropriate vehicle for that message, as his disorder was behind his "grossly immature behaviour".
Schiavello was convicted, ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and undergo a mental health assessment and treatment as part of his sentence.
He was also fined $600 for driving while suspended.
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