A superyacht employee, Ethan Davis, has pleaded guilty to the unlawful abduction of his ex-girlfriend, which included threats to disseminate an intimate video of her following their break-up. Davis, 25, was arrested in 2023 after showing a dangerously obsessive response to the ending of their casual relationship in August.
The incident occurred late one night in Sydney, where Davis concealed himself near the woman’s vehicle. As she was leaving work, he forcibly grabbed her, despite her screams for help. Court documents reveal that he chased her down, forcibly covering her mouth and forcing her into his car.
According to the prosecution, this “clearly planned” abduction lasted over 35 minutes and involved Davis wielding a weapon to coerce his ex-girlfriend into deleting what he referred to as “incriminating data” from her phone. The prosecutor described the conduct as an egregious attempt to conceal prior crimes, indicating that Davis refused to accept her decision to end the relationship.
When appearing in the New South Wales District Court, Davis faced charges for six offences, including detaining a person with intent to gain an advantage. He conceded to threatening his ex-girlfriend, intimidating her, and persistently harassing her through phone calls and messages.
The crown prosecutor labelled the offences as “very serious domestic violence” and a clear escalation of behaviour. They recommended that Davis should be taken into police custody. In contrast, Davis’s barrister, David Carroll, suggested that the case was not typical of domestic violence. Carroll argued that Davis acted out of fear of losing his job rather than a standard violent motive. He noted that Davis had no prior convictions and had showcased efforts toward rehabilitation, contending against the prosecutor’s prediction of inevitable imprisonment.
Judge Stephen Hanley expressed concerns over the seriousness of the offences but permitted Davis to remain on bail until his sentencing, scheduled for 2025. After the court session, tensions flared as Davis and his family confronted media personnel aggressively, leading to physical altercations while exiting the courthouse. The family is expected to present strong testimonials about Davis during the upcoming sentencing hearing on August 29.
The situation highlights crucial issues surrounding domestic violence and the importance of seeking help, with contact numbers for support services prominently displayed, including Lifeline, RESPECT, and Men’s Referral Service.