A man who sent a series of threatening messages to Outback Wrangler Matt Wright and his wife Kaia forced the couple and their children to move out of the family home.
Jock Fleming, 28, began messaging TV personality Matt Wright and his wife Kaia after a fatal crash that killed Wright’s co-star on February 28, 2022.
A helicopter operated by Mr Wright’s Helibrook company crashed near King River, 500 kilometers east of Darwin, killing Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson, who was hanging from a 100ft sling below the vehicle, and seriously injuring the pilot. Sebastian Robinson.
After the incident, Mr Wright began receiving messages from Mr Fleming, including one saying “death is coming for yewwwwwe”.
This week, Fleming pleaded guilty to three counts of using a transportation service in a manner that reasonable people would consider threatening and harassing and is no longer allowed to contact the Wright family.
Kaia Wright told Darwin Local Court her family (pictured) were forced to move for their own safety after being harassed online by a troll.
Jock Fleming pleaded guilty to three instances of harassment against Matt Wright, some of which included death threats.
Fleming was released on a 12-month $1,000 good behavior bond that Wright hopes will deter other online trolls from repeating similar behavior.
“No woman should feel unsafe in her own home, especially if there are small children there,” she said. Limited news.
‘Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident and we continue to receive horrible messages on social media.
“If there’s one thing that comes out of this, it’s that I want people to think about the women, families and children on the other side of the message before they become keyboard warriors.”
In her victim impact statement, Ms Wright told Darwin Local Court she was still struggling to feel safe after someone attacked her home during Mr Fleming’s harassment.
“The last message received from Jock was around the same time that vandalism attacks were being carried out on my family home and electrical box,” he wrote.
‘The simultaneous nature of Jock’s threatening messages and the attacks on my home and electrical box made me feel very uncomfortable.
‘Even now, I’m always nervous in public in case I run into him, not knowing what he can do. I wonder what his mood is like and I worry that things could get worse.
‘I’m quite withdrawn now in Darwin because of the abuse we’ve received.
‘Over time I’ve become a little desensitized to online abuse and keyboard warriors, but this is something else. I had to move from where I lived and I was worried about him knowing, and at that point I spiraled and I’m still struggling to feel safe today.
Police first became involved when Fleming commented on an Instagram post by Wright announcing the death of one of his tour animals.
“With any luck, you won’t be too far from him,” Mr. Fleming’s comment read.
‘…looks like Matty made a big hope of having a few more crocodile tears to shed when he really needs them,’ part of the message read.
Ms Wright told the court she had increased security around her home but still felt unsafe after receiving a series of messages from Mr Fleming.
The messages began shortly after a helicopter operated by Mr Wright’s Helibrook company crashed, killing Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson and seriously injuring pilot Sebastian Robinson.
Around the same time, police also notified Mr. Wright that an arrest warrant had been issued in connection with the fatal helicopter crash.
Wright will face trial later this year and has been charged of perverting the course of justice after the accident.
Police were notified again of Mr. Fleming’s crusade against the family on February 24, 2023, when a death threat sent by text message to Mr. Wright was traced to his phone number.
Fleming re-contacted the family after the Australian Transport Safety Bureau released its findings into the Helibrook crash in November.
The day after the findings were published, Ms. Wright received a Private Instagram message from Mr. Fleming posing under the username Darwin_Gecko.
‘…looks like Matty made a big hope of having a few more crocodile tears to shed when he really needs them,’ part of the message read.
The court heard that ongoing harassment was the only factor in Ms Wright’s decision to relocate her family.
He told police he was “scared for her and his children,” even though he had installed They closed their doors and created barricades inside the house.
Ms Wright also slept with her children for their safety and had installed security cameras on the property.
Mr Fleming has been told by the court that if he contacts the Wright family again he will go to prison.