Rocky Camp man Peter Lionel Hyde guilty of child exploitation charges

A Rocky Camp man in his 80s has been caught having and trying to share child abuse material involving someone under 14.

An elderly South East man is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a string of child child abuse material charges.

Peter Lionel Hyde, of Rocky Camp near Millicent, appeared in Mount Gambier Magistrate Court on Monday.

The man, who in his 80s, was charged with three counts of possessing child exploitation material, three counts of aggravated possessing child exploitation material and a single count of disseminating exploitation material.

Peter Lionel Hyde of Rocky Camp near Millicent appeared at the Mount Gambier Magistrate Court. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Despite prosecution not yet making a charge determination, Hyde’s defence lawyer, Ebony Cunningham, said he was ready to admit to the crimes.

“I do have instructions to enter early guilty pleas in respect to all counts,” she said.

The possession offences took place on December 11, 2017, with Hyde knowing the child was under the age of 14 in relation to three of the six charges.

The other offence occurred between March 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, with Hyde disseminating or taking steps to disseminate exploitation material involving a child under the age of 14 while knowing its nature.

Magistrate Maria Panagiotidis recorded guilty pleas and committed Hyde to the Mount Gambier District Court for sentencing in October with his bail continuing.