'Depraved' Sydney man jailed for three years in first NSW sexting conviction

A magistrate has labelled a Sydney man "depraved" while jailing him for sending sexually explicit messages to nine women without their consent.

Peter Lewis Sheather, 42, admitted to "sexting" the women using text messages, photographs and videos between December 2013 and April this year.

The Cammeray resident was charged with nine counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend after police seized laptops and documents from his home in late April.

In sentencing him to at least three years jail yesterday, Magistrate Roger Prowse said: "If you had to look up the word depraved, you would find an entry: Peter Sheather."

He is believed to be the first person in NSW prosecuted for "sexting".

The Downing Centre Local Court heard Sheather was unknown to most of his victims and had sourced their phone numbers while working at a pool maintenance business.

He referred to several of his victims by name in a message saying, "I'd love to f*** you in your pool", the court heard.

When a victim warned Sheather she would show a sexually explicit video of a lewd act to police, he replied, "You don't even know who it is."

The court heard Sheather had recently sought treatment for depression and had had a disadvantaged childhood marred by sexual abuse.

Mr Prowse denied a defence application to have the sentencing adjourned pending a psychological evaluation.

"Depression does not equal depravity," Mr Prowse said.

"Just imagine the outrage of the victims if he wasn't jailed."

Mr Prowse said Sheather had a "hideous" record of offending and little prospect of rehabilitation.

It is understood he will appeal against the sentence.