Man pleads guilty to threatening Central Coast MP

Christopher Mark Whitty has pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to threaten serious harm against Gosford MP Liesl Tesch. A court had previously heard the 43-year-old used Facebook to make threats of violence and statements indicating an intention to find the former Paralympian in public and cause her harm. What's next? A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for December. A man has pleaded guilty to threatening Gosford state MP Liesl Tesch with violence. Christopher Mark Whitty, 43, was charged with using a carriage service to threaten serious harm against Ms Tesch in August. A court had previously heard he used Facebook to make threats of violence and statements indicating an intention to find the former Paralympian in public and cause her harm. Yesterday, the matter was heard in Gosford Local Court where Whitty submitted a guilty plea. The accused has been on conditional bail since August. Bail conditions include not going within 100 metres of Ms Tesch, possessing only one mobile phone and SIM card, and not entering Gosford unless to attend court. Ms Tesch is the Labor member for Gosford and parliamentary secretary for families, communities and disability inclusion. "I think it's women in public life in particular and female journalists that really get the brunt of the harm that's caused on there," she said. Research from non-profit organisation Women for Election found online abuse or intimidation is commonly experienced by female politicians, with 90 per cent of 110 women running or elected to office able to cite an experience. Half of the women surveyed considered not running again or withdrawing from running. Whitty is due to face a sentencing hearing in December.