Thomas Sewell, a 32‑year‑old neo‑Nazi leader, was found guilty on Friday of intimidating a police officer and the officer’s wife by threatening to publish personal information and hurling abusive insults, a magistrate at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court has ruled. The convictions carry the prospect of a term of imprisonment.
The contested hearing, in which Sewell represented himself, ran for more than a week. Sewell was arrested outside the court on Sept. 2 on a separate allegation relating to an alleged attack on an Indigenous site and was taken into custody while the proceeding was underway; he continued to appear from the court dock behind glass and flanked by security officers.
Prosecutors told the court Sewell repeatedly threatened to "dox" the officer and his wife during podcasts in October and November last year, including references to releasing personal information and wedding photos. Sewell was recorded saying, "I'm working out how to dox him because those doxing laws haven't come into effect yet. Like his wedding photos, we've got it all downloaded, he's a f***ing idiot," according to evidence presented at the hearing.
The police officer gave evidence that the threats left him feeling "highly anxious" about the safety of his family. The officer’s wife did not give oral evidence but her written statement was tendered to the court in which she said she felt "really intimidated and threatened" and believed they were in danger.
Sewell argued during the hearing that his remarks were an exercise of "freedom of communication" about public affairs and a form of holding police to account. Magistrate Michelle Hodgson rejected that defence, finding his conduct targeted the private life of the officer and "went well beyond political accountability."
"There were threats of doxing, openly contemplating circulating this material," Hodgson said. "There is evidence of personal animosity and insult, calling him a f***ing asshole, and including his wife and family — that went well beyond political accountability. Mr Sewell ... has sought to weaponise personal information, personal insult and public exposure to instil fear, and used a speech as intimidation rather than as political communication."
Hodgson found Sewell guilty of three counts of intimidation against the officer and his wife. She also found him guilty of two counts of contravening personal safety orders in November 2024, and not guilty of two other alleged contraventions of those orders. The magistrate acquitted Sewell of an allegation that he failed to comply with a police direction to hand over device passwords during a warrant, finding insufficient evidence.
A plea hearing is scheduled for Friday afternoon. Supporters of Sewell, including identified associate Jacob Hersant, attended court or watched the proceedings online. After the ruling was announced, police were seen arresting another member of Sewell’s group outside the court.
The case follows heightened scrutiny of extremist groups in Australia and public debate over online threats, doxxing and the limits of political expression. Authorities portrayed the convictions as a response to conduct that intimidated a public officer and exposed his family to risk, while Sewell framed his comments as political commentary during the hearing. The magistrate’s ruling accepted the prosecution’s evidence that the comments were meant to intimidate rather than to contribute to legitimate public debate.