Courts / Dublin / Report
Ex-football pro who harassed man online for woman he never met weeps as he's jailed
Summary
Rodney de Khors, a 54‑year‑old former League of Ireland footballer, was sentenced to 16 months in jail after pleading guilty to one count of harassing a man he had never met. Between August 2019 and August 2020, de Khors used the Twitter account IrishSteve@BadboyDublin to post doctored images and false allegations, calling the victim a paedophile, sexual predator and danger to women and children. The victim, who had a child with the woman who encouraged the harassment, said the campaign was a "living nightmare" that caused severe anxiety, depression and PTSD. De Khors claimed he was acting as a "good Samaritan" for the woman, who alleged the victim was not providing adequate child support. The court noted de Khors had no prior convictions and was at low risk of re‑offending. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 20 months, and ordered psychiatric care while in custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-football pro who harassed man online for woman he never met weeps as he's jailed. Charges or matters: one count of harassing the man on dates between August 12, 2019 and August 31, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 12, 2019 Other
- August 31, 2020 Other
- 2024-02-12 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: one count of harassing the man on dates between August 12, 2019 and August 31, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Rodney de Khors, a retired League of Ireland footballer, put his head in his hands and wept when the sentence was handed down in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today.
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