First deepfake porn prosecution: Adelaide victim confronts abuser in court
Australia's first prosecution under federal deepfake pornography laws reached a pivotal moment this week, as a 19-year-old woman confronted the man who altered her graduation photo in a South Australian court. The case marks a significant test of legislation introduced in 2024 to criminalise the creation and distribution of non-consensual sexual material.
What happened in the South Australian District Court?
William Hamish Yeates, a 20-year-old law student from Netherby in Adelaide's southern suburbs, appeared before Judge Anne Barnett on Tuesday for sentencing submissions. Yeates pleaded guilty in April to two counts of creating or altering sexual material without consent and two counts of using a carriage service in a harassing or offensive way, offences committed between October 2024 and February 2025 when he was 18.
The material was distributed across multiple accounts on the social media platform X, according to court documents.
Victim's statement: 'These images were fake, but the impact was painfully real'
The victim-survivor delivered an emotional impact statement, telling Yeates that her face, identity and image 'were never yours to take'.
'I was not yours to expose, alter, sexualise, stalk, or dehumanise. You made the deliberate choice to strip away my dignity and turn me into something for your sick obsession.'
She described how she first encountered the altered image of her graduation photo on a pornographic website, a moment that continues to affect her.
'Every time I now see that photo, I feel sick. These images of me were fake, but the impact they had is painfully real. You tried to reduce me to an image on the screen, but I am so much more than that.'
She expressed hope that sharing her experience would help other victims feel 'seen, heard, believed, or protected', adding: 'I will heal from this.'
Yeates apologises, cites online influences
Yeates read an apology in court, describing his actions as 'repulsive' and stating he was in a constant state of self-loathing and shame.
'My actions were repulsive and will continue to plague my mind for as long as I breathe. I will chase redemption and salvation for as long as I live.'
Defence counsel Jane Powell QC urged the court to consider Yeates's youth, remorse, early guilty plea, and diagnoses of autism, compulsive sexual behaviour disorder and persistent adjustment disorder. Powell noted that at age 15 to 16, Yeates was introduced to online material associated with the 'manosphere' and Andrew Tate, whom she described as 'a well-known, vexatious, hateful, misogynistic individual with an enormous worldwide platform, particularly aimed at young men'.
Prosecution warns of permanent online harm
The prosecutor emphasised that the internet 'is written in ink, not pencil', noting the altered material will remain online indefinitely.
'This gross material will be forever in perpetuity online, and so the risk and the fear of that plaguing her adult life is a very real one.'
The prosecution argued that general deterrence should weigh heavily in sentencing and that a custodial sentence was warranted.
When will sentencing be delivered?
Judge Anne Barnett will sentence Yeates on October 22. The case is being closely watched as the first test of the 2024 federal laws designed to address the growing prevalence of deepfake pornography in Australia.
FAQ
What are Australia's deepfake pornography laws?
Federal laws introduced in 2024 criminalise the creation or alteration of sexual material without consent, including deepfake images and videos. Offenders face prosecution under the Criminal Code, with penalties including imprisonment.
Why is this case significant?
This is the first prosecution under the 2024 legislation, setting a legal precedent for how Australian courts handle deepfake pornography cases involving non-consensual image-based abuse.
What support is available for deepfake victims?
Victims can report image-based abuse to the eSafety Commissioner, which offers removal assistance and support. Legal advice is also available through community legal centres and state-based victim support services.