The author of a ‘taboo’ novel about a relationship between a girl and her father’s friend has been refused anonymity in court despite receiving death threats online.
Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, who writes under the pen name ‘Tori Woods’, came under fire for her book Daddy’s Little Toy, which has children’s building blocks on the cover.
The book describes a man speaking about how he desired a now 18-year-old since she was a toddler.
The 33-year-old Christian charity employee had issued a pre-release of the novel to around 20 advanced readers in March.
The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation received complaints about the book and the Australian Federal Police referred them to New South Wales Police who arrested her on March 21.
Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa has pleaded not guilty to possessing, disseminating, and producing child abuse material.
At a hearing on Monday, her lawyer Mickaela Mate said the allegedly offensive content was between fictional characters who were two consenting adults.
‘[It] is a fantasy within a fiction and hence there are no victims,’ the solicitor said.
Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa (pictured), 33, who writes under the pen name ‘Tori Woods’, has been refused anonymity during a court case regarding her ‘taboo’ novel
Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa’s book, called ‘Daddy’s Little Toy’, describes a man speaking about how he desired a now 18-year-old since she was a toddler
As the author’s husband Adam Mastrosa watched on, Ms Mate argued it was necessary for the court to prevent the publication of her client’s details and the case.
But on Wednesday, Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa lost her bid at Blacktown Local Court.
Online threats made against the woman and her husband, including from a TikToker who referred to the electric chair, were high enough that her safety was at risk, the court was told.
Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa had experienced distress due to these comments against her because child abuse material was seen as heinous.
‘Being called a pedophile online is something that sticks in the community,’ Ms Mate told the court.
She also argued that any magistrate who heard the matter in the future could be influenced because they had read about the widely reported ‘memorable’ case.
The case stuck out because her client worked for a Christian charity, BaptistCare, while writing about allegedly taboo material, the court heard.
‘It is so memorable because my client is otherwise… so ordinary,’ Ms Mate said.
Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to possessing, disseminating, and producing child abuse material
Barrister Matthew Lewis SC, representing News Corp, opposed any suppression, saying details about the case had already gone viral worldwide.
‘It’s almost akin to trying to stop the tide – it’s gone,’ he said.
Magistrate Rami Attia declined to make the orders, saying there was no expert evidence Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa was at risk of harm or self-harm from further reporting.
This was despite the author’s ‘deep-seated fear’ of attending court and her solicitor’s genuine concerns for her wellbeing, the magistrate said.
He also said none of the online threats were elevated enough to warrant the court shielding her identity.
Any suggestion a magistrate could be influenced by media reports of the matter was also rejected.
Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa did not appear in court for the hearings. Her matter will return to court on June 5.
Magistrate Rami Attia at Blacktown Local Court heard that online threats had been made against Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa, including from a TikToker who referred to the electric chair
‘We can confirm that we received complaints regarding an unnamed employee,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘As a result of these complaints, the employee was stood down effective March 20 while we undertake an internal investigation.’
Prior to her arrest, Tesolin-Mastrosa took to social media to say the backlash from her book was a ‘big misunderstanding’.
‘DLT is definitely not promoting or inciting anything ever to do with (child sexual abuse) or pedophilia,’ she wrote.
‘What is being said is grossly disturbing and breaks my heart as well as makes me sick.’
Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa then took down her social media accounts and her book was also removed from Amazon and GoodReads.
