NSW Man Jailed for ‘Sinister’ Sextortion and Vulgar Threats

A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after using AI-manipulated sexual images to blackmail eight women into providing real explicit photos.

Digital Extortion Scheme

Benjamin Jomaa, a casual sales assistant at Supercheap Auto, meticulously trawled social media to download photos of victims he considered “easy targets.” He used multiple fake Facebook profiles to send these women pornographic composites created by digitally altering their original images.

In one instance, Jomaa manipulated a photo of two sisters holidaying in Thailand to make them appear topless. He then threatened both women, stating the images would be posted online if they did not respond to his demands.

The court heard that Jomaa used “sinister, threatening and vulgar” language to coerce the women into sending intimate images of their genitalia.

Court Rulings on AI-Manipulated Sexual Images

At Gosford Local Court, Judge Kirralee Perry stated that a clear message must be sent to the community that such “deceit and disrespect will not be tolerated.” She acknowledged the long-lasting consequences and violations suffered by the victims.

The judge rejected arguments that Jomaa’s impulsive misconduct should be viewed as “sexual banter.” The court noted that Jomaa used cut-and-paste messages to target a wide range of victims in short periods, regardless of the harm caused.

A psychiatric assessment revealed Jomaa was under severe financial stress and had probable autism, which contributed to poor insight into his behavior and a limited understanding of relationships.

Legal Context and Sentencing

Following Jomaa’s arrest in May, police discovered a hidden folder on his phone containing both the original and edited photographs.

Jomaa received two concurrent sentences for commonwealth and state offences, the longest being 27 months. He must serve 16 months before becoming eligible for parole.

The charges were laid two months before the NSW government introduced legislation specifically banning AI-generated sexual imagery. Under these laws, creating an intimate image of someone while being reckless regarding their consent carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment.