Former teacher Grant Geoffrey Martin gets suspended sentence for "abhorrent" child sex slave fantasy
A FORMER teacher who pretended to be a child sex slave online has received a suspended sentence for his "abhorrent" and "highly offensive" behaviour.
A FORMER teacher who pretended to be a child sex slave online has received a suspended sentence for his "abhorrent" and "highly offensive" behaviour.
Former Walkerville Primary School teacher Grant Geoffrey Martin was sentenced in the District Court today to three years and two months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 20 months.
However, Judge Paul Slattery agreed to suspend the prison term because of Martin's remorse and co-operation with police.
Between June 2012 and February 2013, Martin, 45, played the role of a submissive female child sex slave in an online fantasy forum.
His deviant peers knew his true age but nonetheless participated in his imaginary world of sadistic sex acts performed on a "willing child".
Martin was arrested in February by Sexual Crime Investigation Branch detectives, who seized his laptop computer and data storage equipment.
He was charged with one aggravated count and one basic count of producing child pornography, allegedly committed at Campbelltown between June 2012 and February 2013.
The Department of Education and Child Development immediately suspended Martin and, a month later, terminated his employment.
Martin pleaded not guilty and was ordered to stand trial, only to change his pleas in September.
The offences carry a maximum jail term of 12 years.
In October, Martin's lawyers asked the District Court to show their client mercy.
They said he was a paranoid and obsessive man who really wanted to be a woman, offended due to his confuse sexuality and considered himself the victim of Education Department bullying.
Prosecutors, however, said Martin's typed chat logs with his peers represented the sort of child pornography that allowed the deviant internet market for such material to flourish.
Today, Judge Slattery described Martin's behaviour as "abhorrent" and "highly offensive".
"(You) must have been aware (you were) satisfying the repugnant, prurient interests of others," Judge Slattery said.
He said offences such as these are very serious and Martin encouraged those with whom he was chatting to exploit children.
Justice Slattery said he found it "very disturbing" that a teacher with 20 years' experience could engage in such behaviour while continuing to work with children.
Judge Slatterty said Martin claimed he often felt unsupported and mocked by his female colleagues and thought of himself as a bit of a loner.
"You must be aware that there are countless legitimate activities to help you manage stress," he said.
He said Martin's offending was quite different from the usual cases that come before the courts in relation to child pornography.
He said although child pornography was not a victimless crime in Martin's case there was no child involved apart from the one he created.
Judge Slattery said Martin had showed remorse, co-operated with police and possessed good prospects for rehabilitation.
He suspended Martin's custodial sentence and imposed a two-year $100 good behaviour bond.