David Marc Kneebone avoids jail for downloading hundreds of child exploitation pictures and videos

A judge has told a heartbroken RAAF officer busted with hundreds of child exploitation images and videos amid a break-up he must not act on his interest in teens.

A former defence force officer who downloaded hundreds of pictures and videos of child abuse material has avoided jail following “positive signs” of rehabilitation since his arrest.

David Marc Kneebone, 23, of Andrews Farm, appeared in the District Court of South Australia earlier this month charged with one count of possessing or controlling child abuse material using a carriage service, and a count of accessing child pornography, between February, 2019 and June last year.

At a sentencing hearing, Judge Ian Press said most of the material depicted children aged 14 to 17 – engaged in sexually explicit poses or involving solo or mutual masturbation – and a “small proportion” depicting pre-pubescent children.

The court heard Kneebone began searching for material involving children when he was about 15, and then at 17, he looked at similar material with his former boyfriend.

Then, Kneebone joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a combat systems operator around 2016, and was deployed to the South China Sea for about 18 months around 2018.

However, his mental health deteriorated during his deployment after discovering his partner was unfaithful and he was hospitalised for two weeks.

David Marc Kneebone accessed child exploitation material after a break up. Picture: Facebook

Kneebone then returned to Adelaide in February, 2019 in a final attempt to “salvage the relationship”.

Judge Press said “it is not without significance” Kneebone began accessing material after this time.

“That your state of mind at that time lent itself to making poor decisions is … an important consideration when considering the context in which these offences were committed,” Judge Press said.

He did not believe Kneebone had a “specific interest” in pre-pubescent children – nor met the “diagnostic criteria for paedophilia” – but rather had an interest in teenage children.

“While that interest may have been encouraged as a result of your relationship and your unhealthy and unresolved attachment issues, it is nonetheless an interest you have and it is an interest you must learn not to act upon,” he said.

Kneebone leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court in May this year. Picture Matt Turner

However, Judge Press said Kneebone had found stability in recent years with a new partner, a new house, had admitted guilt and made “considerable efforts” to seek employment and treatment since his arrest.

He said these elements showed “positive signs for your rehabilitation”.

“You were not completely truthful when you spoke to police, however, it appears you have taken responsibility since that time,” he said.

“The steps you have taken since being arrested are important and significant.

“Those steps … indicate a commitment to your own rehabilitation.

“I note you have applied that same ethic to your attempts to find employment after being arrested.

“Since that time you have had five different jobs but lost four of them as your employer has become aware of these charges.

“Notwithstanding those setbacks you have continued to apply yourself.”

The fact Kneebone began viewing child abuse material at the age of 17 was also a “significant consideration” as to why he viewed it in his adult years and his prospects of rehabilitation, Judge Press said.

Kneebone received a suspended one-year and four-month prison sentence and a two-year good behaviour bond.