Nigel Dimitri Walker, 41, sentenced for possession of hundreds of images of child exploitation material

A man who worked in The Cape Flattery sand mines as a cultural officer has been sentenced in Cairns District Court after he was caught multiple times with dozens of images of child sexual abuse on his phone, despite being previously convicted of the same offence.

Nigel Dimitri Walker, 41, pleaded guilty to four charges of possessing child exploitation material and four counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations in Cairns District Court on Friday.

A man who worked in The Cape Flattery sand mines as a cultural officer has been sentenced in Cairns District Court after he was caught multiple times with dozens of images of child sexual abuse on his phone, despite being previously convicted of the same offence.

Nigel Dimitri Walker, 41, pleaded guilty to four charges of possessing child exploitation material and four counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations in Cairns District Court on Friday.

Crown Prosecutor Genevieve Feely told the court Walker, who is father of two young sons, was caught multiple times by police between June 2021 and December 2023 with images of “the worst category” on his phone.

The court heard that after traffic stops and the execution of search warrants by police in Cairns, Walker’s phone was seized and examined revealing a total of 175 images and 22 videos depicting children as young as 3-7 years-old naked and depictions of children being abused by adults.

Ms Feely told the court that a number of the failure to comply offences were committed while Walker was on a suspended sentence for a previous conviction of possession of child exploitation material.

Nigel Dimitri Walker, 41, pleaded guilty to four charges of possessing child exploitation material and four counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations in Cairns District Court on Friday.

Defence counsel James Sheridan conceded that his client presented as a recidivist offender with a poor criminal history of offences including a “like” offence.

“Mr Walker has significant underlying issues he needs to manage,” Mr Sheridan said recognising a significant custodial sentence would likely be handed down.

Mr Sheridan told the court before he was taken into custody Walker worked at The Cape Flattery Silica mines as a cultural monitor and his father was a prominent traditional owner in the Hopevale area.

In his sentencing remarks Judge Joshua Trevino KC said there were “obvious aggravating factors” and the continuous offending was proof he “did not come good”.

“My sentencing now moves away from rehabilitation and towards personal punishment, deterrence and denunciation and protection of the public,” Judge Trevino said.

“Men who continue to access this material support a black market that corrupts the innocence of children and it is real children that are exploited and victimised in the creation of this material.

“Your behaviour is of great concern and suggests you pose a significant risk of reoffending so there is no other option than a lengthy sentence of actual custody.”

Judge Trevino sentenced Walker to 5 years imprisonment with a parole eligibility date of the day of sentence due to time being served.

Walker’s release from prison will now be up to the parole board if and when he makes an application for parole.

 

Originally published as Nigel Dimitri Walker, 41, sentenced for possession of hundreds of images of child exploitation material