A 19-year-old Australian man, Lorenzo Hilton, has publicly asked for forgiveness after being caught secretly sending an intimate photograph of Jessica Te Huia in exchange for a promised $3,500 payment. The pair became internationally known last month as the couple at the centre of the so-called "stepmum in bed" scandal in Queensland, and this latest development marks a further twist in a saga that has drawn millions of viewers online.

The story began on 1 June, when Lorenzo's father, Levi Hilton, 38, filmed himself using a butter knife to break into Te Huia's bedroom at 4am and discovered his 38-year-old ex-girlfriend in bed with his teenage son. Levi Hilton now faces a series of domestic violence-related charges. Lorenzo and Te Huia have remained close since, though not officially a couple. Lorenzo told the Daily Mail that job loss and financial hardship following the scandal led him to sell the photo to someone offering money for images of the "Gold Coast stepmum". Te Huia says she is willing to forgive him.