Today 38 year old Brian Harvey was sentenced to three years correctional supervision in the Germiston Regional court after having been convicted earlier this year on charges of crimen injuria, charges in terms of the Sexual Offences Act as well as an offence relating to the possession of drugs.
Harvey was arrested at his home in Modderfontein early in August 2010 after the Investigative Psychology Unit of the South African Police Service investigated complaints from women who had been receiving explicit sexual SMS and MMS messages on their cellular phones.
Investigations linked Harvey to sexually explicit photographs and videos of himself sent via cell phone to nine (9) women, among them his psychiatrist, female employer, a gym instructor at his local gym and various estate agents in the East Rand area.
At the time of his arrest, Harvey was found to be in possession of the drug CAT. He made a full confession to police detectives and in January 2011 pleaded guilty to the charges.
The three years correctional supervision means that Harvey must remain confined to his home, only being permitted to go to work and back. He may not use drugs or alcohol, obviously may not commit any crimes and is obliged to participate in programmes as directed by the Department of Correctional Services. Failure to comply could lead to his sentence being converted to direct imprisonment.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) welcomes this sentence which sends a stern message out to those who think that they can sexually harass, intimidate or denigrate women anonymously via modern technology that they will not get away with their actions.
Enquiries:
Brigadier Sally de Beer
Cell: 082 779 8658
Tel: 012 400 6585
Source: South African Police Service
