Benjamin Smorti will be sentenced next month for possessing child exploitation material

A meth addict admits he deserves to go to jail for bookmarking sickening child abuse material which he said he viewed for over two years.

A man who admitted to viewing child abuse material for over two years said he deserves to go to jail for his vile actions.

Benjamin Luke Smorti, 40, was addicted to methamphetamine when he bookmarked the abhorrent material for quick access.

A prosecutor told the Adelaide District Court on Thursday Smorti accessed the material to gratify his sexual interest.

“It was at ready access on his device, saved in bookmarks,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard Smorti admitted to having viewed the material for over two years.

The prosecutor said the fact Smorti was addicted to methamphetamine at the time did not diminish his actions.

“Especially in circumstances where he self reports deliberately having consumed meth to facilitate continued viewing of child abuse material,” the prosecutor said.

“His behaviour contributed to the market for this type of material.

“They (the victims in the material) have no doubt suffered significant trauma as a result of the creation of these materials.”

Benjamin Smorti will be sentenced next month for possessing child exploitation material. Photo: Facebook

Smorti, of Clare, pleaded guilty to possessing/controlling child abuse material using a carriage service.

The offending happened between March 9 to April 29, 2020 at Clare.

Sally Burgess, for Smorti, said there was an “apparent link” between Smorti’s methamphetamine use and the offending.

“It doesn’t excuse the offending but it certainly explains it … and explains why it’s so important for Mr Smorti to continue the process of rehabilitation that has commenced,” she said.

Ms Burgess pushed for a home detention sentence, despite Smorti having said he deserves to go to jail for what he did.

“The concern is to put him in jail and place him with others who perhaps are not like-minded,” she said.

“He has a goal – that’s to remain abstinent and on the right track.”

The court heard Smorti was remorseful for his actions and acknowledged that he was “well and truly in the wrong”.

The court heard Smorti was at the low risk of reoffending if he could remain abstinent from drugs.

Judge Liesl Kudelka will sentence Smorti next month.