Man Sentenced to Prison for Death Threats Against Brittany Higgins and Partner

David William Wonnocott received a minimum 16-month sentence for issuing violent threats that deeply impacted the victims’ sense of safety.

David William Wonnocott was sentenced to three years and two months in prison, with a non-parole period of 16 months, for threatening Brittany Higgins, her partner David Sharaz, and their dog via social media.
The threats, sent in 2022, caused Higgins and Sharaz to fear for their safety, prompting them to install security measures and eventually leave Australia for France.
Judge John Pickering noted that Wonnocott’s actions went beyond typical online trolling, deliberately instilling genuine fear in the victims.
Wonnocott has a history of hateful online behavior, including offensive comments about the LGBTQ+ community and the Christchurch mosque shootings, for which he had previously received leniency from courts.
The court emphasized that repeated warnings and opportunities for rehabilitation had failed, necessitating a custodial sentence to deter similar actions in the future.