Sydney Man Spares Jail for ‘Abhorrent’ Social Media Posts

Sydney Man Spared Jail After Racist, Homophobic, and Violent Social Media Tirade

A Sydney man has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence after flooding social media with a torrent of racist, Islamophobic, homophobic, and violently threatening posts, which a magistrate has described as a “serious affront to the values of a civilised society.” Alexander Phillip David Keating, 37, pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to offend, stemming from over 45 posts made on X, formerly Twitter, between February and April last year.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis characterised the “frenetic” online activity as deliberately calculated to dehumanise entire groups of people and incite violence against them. “Any gains we have painstakingly made as a multicultural society over many years are quickly eroded and cast into oblivion,” he stated during the sentencing hearing.

A “Grave Abuse” of Online Platforms

The magistrate highlighted that a significant portion of Keating’s posts were driven by race and religion, with Muslims being a particular target. He described these publications as “corrosive,” noting their power to strip individuals of their dignity and fuel prejudice. “The conduct for which the defendant stands charged represents a grave abuse of social media communications platforms and is a serious affront to the values of a civilised society,” Tsavdaridis emphasised.

Instead of imprisonment, Keating was handed a two-year community correction order. This order carries strict conditions, including mandatory engagement with mental health treatment as deemed necessary by professionals. The magistrate acknowledged Keating’s behaviour as “abhorrent” but also recognised his acceptance of responsibility, his expressed remorse, and his proactive steps towards seeking treatment.

Keating’s online actions came to light in May last year following a search warrant executed at his residence, which led to the forensic examination of his phone. During an interview, he admitted to using an X account to disseminate numerous posts, some of which were directed at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Legal Battles and Mental Health Considerations

Earlier in the proceedings, Keating’s legal representative, Tom Seeney, attempted to have the charge diverted under Commonwealth legislation designed for individuals with mental health or cognitive impairments. Seeney informed the Downing Centre Local Court that Keating’s X account had a modest following of six individuals and that the offending posts were likely amplified by automated traffic tools.

Commonwealth prosecutor Brian Massone conceded that Keating’s diagnosed mental health conditions presented a “complex mental health picture,” satisfying one aspect of the relevant diversionary legislation. However, the prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the public interest favoured a formal legal resolution of the case.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tsavdaridis ultimately rejected the diversionary application. His decision was based on a thorough consideration of various factors, including the inherent seriousness and nature of the offending behaviour, as well as the suitability of alternative sentencing options. He deemed the diversionary path “an exercise in futility,” as it would prevent the court from revisiting the sentence should Keating fail to comply with any court-imposed orders.

Disturbing Content and Self-Medication

During the proceedings, the deputy chief magistrate detailed a selection of Keating’s posts, the explicit nature of which led the ABC to refrain from republishing them. These posts were presented as evidence of the “objectively serious” nature of his conduct. The court also heard that Keating had been self-medicating with cannabis, spending up to $200 per week on the drug in the period leading up to his offending.

“What seems to be a common thread throughout the various reports are difficulties with self-regulation and impulsivity,” the deputy chief magistrate observed.

In his sentencing submissions, Mr. Massone outlined that Keating’s posts contained explicit calls for rape, torture, and other forms of graphic physical violence targeting both minority groups and political figures. “He attributes his conduct in this matter to a variety of things, including … the political environment, or as he saw it, the deterioration of Australian society,” Massone told the court.

The Crown ultimately agreed that a non-custodial sentence would be an appropriate outcome. It is worth noting that Keating had previously faced a charge of threatening to harm a Commonwealth official, which was subsequently withdrawn.