PHOTO: Adrian Bruno. Canberra Times
⚖️ Former Property Agent Hit With Five-Year Ban Following Threatening Email Campaign
A former Australian real estate agent has been prohibited from contacting several former colleagues for the next five years after admitting to sending a prolonged series of menacing and disturbing messages.
Adrian Bruno, 39, pleaded guilty to multiple offences involving the use of a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. The charges stem from emails sent to female co-workers after he left his employment in the property industry.
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📧 Victims Describe Months of Fear and Anxiety
During proceedings in Burwood Local Court, one former colleague told the court that she and other staff members had endured an ongoing campaign of intimidation and threats.
She described Bruno’s actions as deliberate and sustained rather than a simple lapse in judgment.
Among the messages were repeated demands that a junior employee take her own life, along with threats of rape and violent death directed at other women.
The victim said the emails significantly impacted her wellbeing, triggering anxiety and panic attacks while leaving her fearful for the safety of her children.
As a result, she stopped allowing her children to attend certain activities unless she accompanied them.
🏛️ Court Orders Five-Year Protection
Judge Christopher Halburd imposed apprehended violence orders preventing Bruno from contacting, intimidating, assaulting or harassing his former colleagues and members of their households for a period of five years.
Breaching those orders could result in imprisonment for up to two years.
Bruno remains on bail and will be sentenced at a later date.
🧠 Mental Health History Raised in Defence
Bruno’s legal counsel acknowledged the seriousness of the messages and accepted that they had caused considerable distress.
However, the defence argued that Bruno had never acted on the threats and highlighted his long-standing psychiatric history.
His lawyer told the court that many of the emails were sent during periods when he may not have been taking prescribed medication.
A community-based sentence was sought to allow him to continue receiving treatment and support.
🏠 Another Blow for the Real Estate Industry
The case is the latest in a string of incidents involving real estate professionals making headlines for the wrong reasons.
While the overwhelming majority of agents work professionally and ethically, high-profile criminal and misconduct cases continue to attract significant public attention and risk damaging trust in the wider property sector.
The court will determine Bruno’s sentence at a future hearing.
📌 Key Takeaways
✅ Former real estate agent Adrian Bruno pleaded guilty to multiple offences.
✅ Emails included threats of rape, violence and encouragement of self-harm.
✅ Victims reported anxiety, panic attacks and concerns for their families’ safety.
✅ The court imposed a five-year apprehended violence order.
✅ Bruno remains on bail awaiting sentencing.
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SOURCE YAHOO