A recently married woman has been charged by police following an alleged menacing phone call made to a leading paediatric nutritionist in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs.
Alleged Call Targets Prominent Health Expert
Mandy Sacher, a 49-year-old child nutrition expert, author, and entrepreneur, is the reported victim of the incident. The mother-of-two, who boasts over 100,000 Instagram followers, is a frequent media commentator, appearing on programmes like the Today Show and Sunrise. She is also the founder of Real Food Rating, an initiative providing science-backed nutritional information for families.
Police allege that on Sunday, December 21, Ms Sacher received a frightening phone call at her business that caused her immediate fear. She reported the matter, leading to an investigation by detectives.
Arrest and Bail Conditions for New Bride
Officers arrested Serena Tonuri, 26, at a home in Meadowbank in Sydney's inner north-west at approximately 4.30pm on Monday. She was taken to Gladesville Police Station and charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend.
Tonuri, who married her partner of three years in a lavish Queensland ceremony just two months ago in October, was granted strict conditional bail. Police have taken out an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) on Ms Sacher's behalf.
The bail conditions explicitly forbid Tonuri from:
- Assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing, or intimidating Ms Sacher or anyone with whom she has a domestic relationship.
- Intentionally damaging Ms Sacher's property or harming any animals in her care.
- Contacting, approaching, or going within 100 metres of any place where Ms Sacher lives or works.
Tonuri is scheduled to face Burwood Local Court on January 15.
Profiles of the Accused and the Alleged Victim
According to her social media, Serena Tonuri is a self-described digital entrepreneur, network marketer, and investor who promotes making an online income. A graduate of the private Loreto Kirribilli school, she is currently an equine science student at Charles Sturt University. Her online persona, also under the name Serena de Florian, features motivational content about wealth creation and lifestyle freedom.
In contrast, Mandy Sacher is a established figure in child health. She is the author of the bestselling book The Wholesome Child and a vocal critic of the Health Star Rating System, which she argues misleads consumers. Her new Real Food Rating system aims to provide transparent, independent food assessments.
This case forms part of New South Wales Police's Operation Shelter, a hate crime crackdown launched after the Bondi terror attack on December 14. Police have conducted over 2,600 proactive taskings under this operation.
