Former lawyer, Rugby SA boss Michael Figwer sentenced over vile child abuse material

Ex-lawyer, uni lecturer, political staffer and acting director of Rugby SA – but while in a “downward spiral” he accessed child abuse material. Now he’s been sentenced.

Michael Figwer, former MP’s office manager, lawyer and university lecturer has been sentenced for possessing child abuse material. Picture: Facebook.

A former lawyer, lecturer and political staffer was in a “tragic downward psychological spiral” after his legal career ended – leading him down the path of accessing child abuse material online, a judge has concluded.

Michael Figwer, 61, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing child abuse material and one count of transmitting written child exploitation material over Tinder.

On Friday, District Court Judge Simon Stretton said he accepted Figwer’s evidence that he had not intentionally downloaded material of girls as young as six years old.

Instead, Judge Stretton said Figwer had searched for and downloaded images of under age, but pubescent, females and had been sent online bundles of images that came with pictures of the abuse of younger children.

“You said you were horrified by it and became visibly upset in the witness box when describing the material,” Judge Stretton said.

The court heard that Figwer did not delete the images.

Michael Figwer, former UniSA lecturer and senior member of Rugby SA, outside Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

More than 100 images were found on Figwer’s phone when his Hazelwood Park home was searched on March 7, 2022.

The raid followed a tip off from United States National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

Figwer helped police access his phone and told detectives he had been looking at images of children.

In a separate charge, Figwer pleaded guilty to sending written child exploitation material over Tinder to a user called “Hannah”.

Judge Stretton said Figwer had first started communicating with the user thinking she was in her late teens or early 20s.

But “Hannah” convinced Figwer to begin sending sexualised messages to her younger sister who she claimed was aged 15.

Michael Figwer, former UniSA lecturer and lawyer, leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court where he was facing charges of possessing child exploitation material. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Judge Stretton said the language used in the messages and the “goading” of Figwer into messaging the younger sister left him far from convinced there had been an underage child receiving the messages.

“Hannah” was not identified by police.

Figwer was involved with Rugby SA for several years and has held the role of chair of the match judiciary panel and acting director of the organisation in 2015.

In 2013 and 2014 Mr Figwer was the office manager and research officer for Legislative Council Member Ann Bressington.

Judge Stretton said Figwer lost his legal accreditation in 2013 after the Supreme Court found he had not maintained proper professional standards.

After losing his practising certificate, Figwer’s mental health began to go downhill and he became addicted to pornography.

Figwer was sentenced to 13 and a half months imprisonment but will serve his sentence on home detention in the community. He was also fined $18,750.