The Trout Lady case remains one of the most unsettling viral scandals to emerge from Australia in the past decade. What began as two privately recorded explicit videos eventually turned into a global spectacle, attracting millions of views, triggering police intervention, sparking public outrage & leading to a long-running legal process that brought Tasmania’s justice system, animal rights groups & online communities into the same conversation.
This expanded version brings together every key detail from all reporting, court appearances, police statements, community responses & legal outcomes. It also clarifies early inaccuracies, explains how the video spread so widely, revisits the personal fallout for those involved & documents the final sentencing that brought the scandal to a close.
Filming of the Trout Lady Videos Between 2022 & 2023
The two videos that later shocked the world were filmed between February 2022 & January 2023, featuring Catherine June Lee, a 58-year-old woman from southern Tasmania, & Ashley David Hallam, a 55-year-old fisherman from Dolphin Sands.
The first video shows Lee lying on a boat while Hallam uses a live brown trout to perform a sexual act on her. This occurred somewhere in southern Tasmania, with the footage recorded on the open water, giving investigators enough evidence to establish the approximate timeframe & the identities of the two people involved.
The second video, unrelated to the trout but filmed during the same period, shows Lee & Hallam engaging in sexual behaviour on the grave of artist David Hammond Chapman, whose work is known throughout Tasmania for its distinctive landscapes. The footage was recorded at St Mark’s Anglican Cemetery in Cressy, near Launceston, creating additional legal issues due to the sacred nature of the site.
These two videos, filmed privately, would eventually become the catalyst for one of the most publicised criminal investigations Tasmania has experienced in recent years.
The Viral Spread of the Trout Lady Video in 2023
In January 2023, the trout video unexpectedly leaked online & spread at extraordinary speed across social media. It rapidly circulated on TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, YouTube mirrors & messaging groups before anyone could intervene.
Initially, Hallam told the court he sent the video to “only six friends,” believing the situation would remain private. However, prosecutors later argued that the speed & scale of the viral spread indicated that the footage had been shared far beyond his direct circle, contributing to the severity of the charges.
The clip reached millions of viewers globally, with the graphic nature of the act sparking immediate backlash. People expressed disbelief, disgust & outrage, often referencing the video as one of the most disturbing pieces of viral content they had ever seen.
Social commentary included comparisons to:
- extreme shock humour
- notorious rock-band urban legends
- explicit comedy parodies
- infamous online viral scandals
The Trout Lady nickname began circulating almost immediately, attaching itself to Lee even before her identity was confirmed.
Police & RSPCA Warnings After the Video Surfaced
As the trout video gained traction, Tasmania Police issued a rare & firm public warning. They stated that possessing or distributing the video was illegal & urged viewers to delete the footage immediately. Police emphasised that the act involved a live animal & therefore met the legal definition of a bestiality product, which is prohibited under Australian law.
The RSPCA also issued a statement thanking the public for alerting them, describing the video as “acts of depravity” & confirming the matter had been escalated directly to police due to the seriousness of the alleged conduct.
This dual response from policing & animal welfare agencies helped establish the gravity of the situation & confirmed that charges were imminent.
The Identification of the Trout Lady & Her Former Workplace Statement
As speculation grew, online users attempted to identify the woman in the video. Eventually, attention turned to Catherine June Lee, who was quickly associated with the footage.
A Hobart veterinary clinic where she had once worked released a public statement confirming:
- she was a former employee, not currently associated with the practice
- the clinic condemned mistreatment of animals
- the situation had caused distress to clients & staff
- the workplace did not condone her behaviour
The clinic sought to distance itself clearly from the viral scandal, acknowledging how significant the public reaction had become.
Charges Laid Against the Pair in 2023
The couple was officially charged in February 2023, following the conclusion of early police enquiries. There was initial confusion in media reporting about who faced which offences, with some outlets initially stating both faced cemetery-related charges.
This was later corrected. The final legal breakdown is as follows:
Charges Against Catherine June Lee
- 1 count of possessing a bestiality product
- 2 counts of making or reproducing a bestiality product
- Total: three charges
- All laid under the Classification (Publications, Films & Computer Games) Enforcement Act
Charges Against Ashley David Hallam
- 3 counts of possessing a bestiality product
- 2 counts of making or reproducing a bestiality product
- 1 count relating to prohibited activities in a cemetery
- Also referenced: a past fishing-related offence, contributing to the court’s view of his character
Police noted that both videos formed part of the same investigative process.
Court Appearances Throughout 2024
The charges led to a long series of court dates across 2023 & 2024, marked by repeated adjournments.
May 2024
Hallam appeared but did not enter a plea.
August 2024
Lee appeared in Hobart Magistrates Court.
She requested an adjournment, which was granted.
October 2024
Both returned to court:
- Hallam requested another adjournment.
- He then entered a not guilty plea to bestiality-related charges.
- Lee appeared via phone while her lawyer sought additional time to respond to the production charge.
- The matter was moved to January 2025 for further management.
These hearings drew widespread media interest as the case continued to attract national & international attention.
Hallam’s Guilty Plea & Legal Turning Point in May 2025
The case shifted dramatically in May 2025, when Hallam changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on two central charges:
- producing a bestiality product
- possessing a bestiality product
His defence argued he was accepting responsibility & sparing both Lee & the court from additional embarrassment.
Prosecutors opposed this framing, stressing:
- the content was deliberate & prolonged
- a live animal was harmed
- the viral spread heightened the seriousness
- Hallam had previously ignored animal-protection laws
- “he does not come to court as a person of good character”
The guilty plea did not end the matter immediately but set the stage for sentencing.
Final Sentencing Delivered in September 2025
Hallam returned to court in September 2025, where Magistrate Marica Duvnjak delivered her ruling.
Final Sentence
- Five-month prison sentence, wholly suspended for 18 months
- 75 hours of community service
- 18-month community corrections order
The court described Hallam’s behaviour as “serious” & “depraved,” emphasising the breach of community standards & the distress caused by the viral spread. His explanation that the video was only intended for six friends was rejected.
Outcome for Catherine Lee
By early 2025, the charges against Lee had been withdrawn.
She did not enter a plea & was not convicted.
Despite avoiding legal penalties, her involvement in the videos continued to define her public image, & the Trout Lady nickname remained attached to her long after the court process ended.
The Long-Term Impact of the Trout Lady Scandal
The Trout Lady case has had a lasting cultural & legal impact in Australia.
For Hallam
His guilty plea left him with a permanent criminal record, a suspended sentence & significant public disgrace. The case also reignited discussions about wildlife protection, fishing ethics & the need for clearer public awareness regarding prohibited acts involving animals.
For Lee
Even without a conviction, the viral spread cemented her association with the scandal. Her identity became permanently intertwined with the Trout Lady label, shaping public perception & affecting her reputation long after the matter concluded.
For the community
The incident highlighted:
- the serious consequences of sharing illegal content
- the vulnerability of wildlife to exploitation
- the disrespect shown toward sacred cultural sites
- the dangers of viral media amplifying criminal behaviour
It also underscored how a private act can become a global spectacle, altering lives permanently.
The Trout Lady case, in its entirety, stands as a reminder of how quickly digital content can escalate, how damaging viral exposure can be & how the justice system responds when disturbing material spreads beyond control.
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