The teenager at the centre of a sex tape scandal involving Broncos star Kotoni Staggs has dodged a conviction for leaking the explicit video of the athlete.
McKenzie Lorraine Robinson’s defence lawyer sensationally told the court the 18-year-old never intended for the private video, which was sent to a trusted friend who then shared it across social media, to become a public sex scandal.
The Brisbane teenager was fashionably dressed and carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag for her appearance at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
She was charged over the video’s release in August after Staggs complained to police when the file was circulated online.
Robinson, from Newstead, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing prohibited visual recordings.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of three years’ jail under Queensland law.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Henri Rantala told the court Robinson and Staggs, 21, arranged to meet for consensual sex on June 15 after the pair began chatting over Instagram.
Staggs consented to Robinson recording the footage of their encounter on the proviso it stayed between the two of them.
The pair parted ways and did not meet again but Robinson messaged Staggs several times over the next few months, including a snippet of the video.
Sgt Rantala said the video began to appear on social media platforms from August 4 and appeared to have been distributed to other sport clubs without Staggs’ consent.
“It received attention domestically and internationally,” Sgt Rantala said.
“The victim advised the distribution of the video resulted in personal embarrassment and ongoing harassment, as well as professional repercussions affecting his public brand and potential sponsorship opportunities.”
Magistrate Tina Previtera fined Robinson $600 and did not record a conviction.
“You did not know at the time of contact with the victim that he was a professional footballer,” Magistrate Previtera said.
“I do hope this is a lesson to you and all other people involved in this kind of behaviour on social media, that it is highly destructive.”
She took into account her early plea of guilty, her age and lack of criminal history.
Robinson’s defence lawyer Jason Jacobson told the court his client was not responsible for sharing the video, saying it was sent to a friend who shared the file more widely.
He said Robinson, who works as a customer service officer, plans to study psychology and social work in NSW upon completing her Year 11 & 12 equivalency studies through TAFE.
“She has learned a harsh lesson that these things are not to be distributed at all,” Mr Jacobson said.
Outside court, Robinson and her lawyer silently walked off from waiting media.
The footage led to Staggs being investigated by the NRL’s integrity unit, contributing to a damaging year for the Queensland team amid frequent losses and damaging player scandals.
Staggs was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Last week he told the Courier Mail he felt “embarrassed” by the ordeal.
“I didn’t want my family to see it, that was the one thing that I was worried about. I didn’t really want to tell them but I had to,” Staggs said.
“They actually took it really well. They stuck by my side. They had my back through it all. I was surprised by how well they took it and that made me feel a bit better.
“There’s always ups and downs. You learn from your mistakes.”
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