David Marc Kneebone downloaded hundreds of images of pubescent children while dealing with a break up

A former RAAF systems operator working in the South China Sea has blamed a broken heart and loneliness for accessing 100s of child abuse images.

A former Royal Australian Air Force systems operator working in the South China Sea accessed hundreds of images of pubescent children during a break-up with his boyfriend.

David Marc Kneebone, 23, of Andrews Farm, appeared in the District Court on Tuesday charged with possessing child abuse material using a carriage service and using a carriage service to access child pornography.

He pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.

Kneebone was charged in July last year after the South Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team allegedly found illegal material on electronic devices during a search of his home that day.

David Marc Kneebone leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court in May. Picture: Matt Turner

For Kneebone on Tuesday, Michael Woods said his client had accessed hundreds of photos of pubescent children between March and April, 2019, but there had been a “lot of duplication” and he had “no sexual interest in pre-pubescent children”.

The court heard almost 200 pictures were found in two folders, plus a further 145, including videos, and an additional 109 pictures via Tumblr.

“The access of any of these materials after being downloaded was very limited indeed,” Mr Woods said.

“There has been no suggestion… of sharing, dissemination, profit from chat rooms.”

While admitting it was “serious offending”, the material was accessed while Kneebone - aged in his 20s at the time of the offending - was a young man, Mr Woods submitted to the court.

“There’s a big difference between a young teenager, commencing an interest in material of that kind, to a 50-year-old man developing that interest in his 50s,” he said.

“There’s always room for mercy.”

On Tuesday, Mr Woods said the offending occurred “at the time of a relationship breakdown” with Kneebone’s partner of more than three years.

David Marc Kneebone was caught with hundreds of inappropriate pictures. Picture: David Kneebone / Facebook.

He said Kneebone was “very isolated” while working as a RAAF combat systems operator in the South China Sea in 2017, and often had “almost no contact at all” with other people.

However, during a deployment it appeared his partner had met somebody else, which was the “real start of significant mental health issues”.

Kneebone would later spend two weeks in hospital and sought to be discharged to “save his relationship”, while suffering from “extreme levels of depressive symptoms”.

However, the relationship dissolved after his discharge, which came “right in the midst of this offending”.

“He said it was the worst decision of his life, he gave up a career that he really loved for a man he thought he loved,” Mr Woods said.

Mr Woods said it was unfortunate his client’s offending had received a “public airing”.

“He’s had his name in the media, which many escape from,” he said.

“He’s now lost four employment positions since this matter came to light.”

The matter returns to court next week for further submissions.