SA court jails Instagram child-sex predator Cameron Robert Bowen for more than 15 years for stalking, grooming and abuse

A pedophile who preyed upon vulnerable LGBT+ children through the internet will serve one of the longest sex abuse sentences in state history.

For a number of years and beneath dozens of digital masks, Cameron Robert Bowen pursued, harassed, intimidated and threatened vulnerable children for sex.

But even after admitting he had preyed on the LGBT+ community through Instagram and Facebook, Bowen refused to accept he is a pedophile.

On Wednesday, the District Court said that denial eroded Bowen’s claims of remorse – and warranted one of the state’s longest sentences for child sex crimes.

Judge Geraldine Davison jailed Bowen for 15 years, with an 8 1/2-year non-parole period – saying he would have served more than 20 years if not for his confessions.

Cameron Robert Bowen. Picture: Facebook

“Your offending demonstrated not just an unlawful sexual interest in relation to children but also displayed a cruel disregard for their welfare,” she said.

“Your conduct (toward them) was, at times, depraved and sadistic.

“Your prospects of rehabilitation are likely to remain poor as long as you remain in denial about your offending conduct and lack insight into your pedophilic proclivities.”

As she spoke, Bowen – appearing in court by video link from prison – shook his head in apparent disagreement.

Bowen, 32, of Salisbury, made legal history by pleading guilty to having maintained an unlawful sexual relationship despite having never met his victim in person.

His confession has set a national precedent for the prosecution and punishment of online child sex predators, exposing them to a maximum life sentence.

That crime, like all of Bowen’s 21 offences, arose from his time under the tutelage of Australia’s worst-ever child sex offender, former RAAF Sergeant Jacob Donald Walsh.

Earlier this month, one of Bowen’s victims told the court his seduction, psychological isolation and sexual grooming had left her with permanent mental health issues.

In sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Davison said Bowen solicited images from children and swapped them with other online pedophiles.

She said he had, at times, feted his victims with presents, included engagement rings, toys and roses.

He had also threatened them, promising to release indecent photos of them – or worse – if they did not provide him with more child exploitation material.

“You threatened one victim that, if she did not (comply) you would start rumours (and) she would be ‘gang-raped by all the guys in town’ … she was 14,” she said.

Bowen’s collection of child abuse material, she said, spanned hundreds of videos and images depicting children as young as two years old.

“The internet is there as a mechanism through which children can be manipulated and even exploited for the gratification of offenders,” she said.

“These images remain in cyberspace, resulting in further exploitation and degradation of these children.”