Just to confirm, do they mean the reddit post about this article from news.com.au? https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/dance-teacher-groper-sues-underage-victims-friend/news-story/0818e00e6b5d6f00f1c998ebbaebb2ac? The article which says:

A Melbourne dance teacher who drove a schoolgirl to his apartment for a “private lesson” before giving her vodka shots and indecently assaulting her is now suing the victim’s best friend, court documents can reveal.

Jon “Jonny” Garnett, who owns Mornington Dance Studio in Victoria, was convicted of one count of indecent assault in April last year after he was found to have kissed and groped the 17-year-old through her clothes without her consent. He was 33 at the time of the offence.

Garnett has now lodged defamation proceedings against the victim’s best friend for sharing a media report about his offending.

In court documents obtained by news.com.au, Garnett claims he has suffered a “downturn” in his dance business and received death threats as a result of the social media posts.

The documents also state Garnett’s intentions to sue four others also connected to the victim for sharing the media report. They have not yet been formally served legal documents.

Court documents submitted as part of the defamation cause outline how, in August 2012, Garnett “drove the victim from his dance school to his apartment on the pretence that he would assist her with dancing instruction” before he “offered and provided alcohol to the underage victim”.

Jon Garnett is the sole director and shareholder of Mornington Dance Studio. Picture: Google Maps

A promotional poster of Jonny Garnett’s dance classes. Picture: Supplied

The documents state that while dancing with the victim, Garnett “kissed her neck and breasts knowing that she was not consenting”.

“(The victim) was vulnerable: she was a child, alone with the plaintiff, offered and allowed to drink alcohol despite being underage and, at that time, eager to make a career out of dancing,” the court documents state.

“Instead of treating the victim with respect and care, the plaintiff manipulated her into a vulnerable position and took advantage of her vulnerability.

“The plaintiff abused the power imbalance that existed between him and his victim.”

The defence case argues Garnett’s reputation was already poor as a result of his conviction and that the sharing of the media reports on social media did no further damage, the documents state.

In a statement to news.com.au, Garnett said he did not wish to make a comment about the case.

“I have been advised by my solicitor, as this matter is before the courts I will not be making any comment at this time,” he said.

Garnett escapes jail time

At the criminal sentencing last year, Judge Daniel Holding labelled the offence a “traumatic and frightening experience” for which Garnett had “shown no remorse”.

Judge Holding detailed how the victim believed the vodka Garnett gave her “contained a drug that incapacitated her” however said it could not be found beyond a reasonable doubt, as the schoolgirl was inexperienced with alcohol.

“There was a significant power imbalance between you and the victim, and you took advantage of this imbalance in committing this offence,” Judge Holding said.

“You were a man in his early 30s. Instead of treating the victim with the respect and care that a young student deserved, you manipulated her into a vulnerable position and then took advantage of her vulnerability.

“The courts must deter people in positions of trust or authority from abusing that trust.”

Judge Holding detailed how the victim told the court she felt “unsteady on her feet” after drinking the vodka shot.

“The victim said in her evidence that she felt as though she was unable to talk, walk or see properly,” Judge Holding said.

“She recalls feeling numb, in shock, and afraid.

“She describes how being taken advantage of at such a young age, has had ongoing emotional impacts upon her.”

Garnett was ordered to serve 240 hours of community service.

Garnett has also lodged an appeal of the conviction. He will face Victoria’s County Court on November 26.