The ‘sadistic’ form of coercive abuse becoming increasingly common

A man in Sydney has pleaded guilty to coercively abusing a woman by stealing her intimate photos and using them to force her into ongoing contact, highlighting a growing trend of 'sadistic' image-based abuse. The victim, referred to as Ashley, was subjected to threats, harassment, and public exposure of private content after helping the perpetrator set up her phone. Experts warn that such abuse is increasingly common and psychologically damaging, particularly among young people. The case underscores challenges in legal and online safety responses, especially with the rise of AI-generated content.