Victorian pedophile Michael Coyne in Bundaberg court on child exploitation material charges

A convicted Victorian pedophile has re-emerged in Qld after a basic mistake uncovered horrific new offending by a predator who is now on anti-libido drugs to try and “control his compulsions”.

A 71-year-old man has been sentenced in Bundaberg district court after being busted with hundreds of photos and videos depicting child exploitation materials

A convicted Victorian pedophile has been busted in Queensland with hundreds of child exploitation videos and images, some of which featured victims as young as two.

The extent of Michael Coyne’s latest crimes was only discovered after the lifelong reportable sex offender failed to disclose a new email address to police.

Bundaberg District Court this week heard a forensic search of the phone uncovered a total of 370 “unique” videos and photos of explicit material.

Coyne, who was 70 at the time of the offending, admitted to police he also shared some of the material with an adult woman from whom he hoped to gain sexual favours.

The now 71-year-old, who is currently based in Bundaberg, also confessed to masturbating to the material.

Among the files found on Coyne’s mobile phone were 81 considered to be in one of the highest categories offending while a remaining 283 images and six videos were determined to be in category one.

Judge John Allen said the files contained “pre-pubescent males and females” aged between six to eight years old, but also as young as two.

They contained “real children who were being victimised,” he said.

On February 13, 2025, a medical report submitted to the court determined Coyne had pedophilic disorder.

Coyne’s defence lawyer, Ms Horne, told the court he had been prescribed anti-libido medication to control his compulsions.

A 71-year-old man has been sentenced in Bundaberg district court after being busted with hundreds of photos and videos depicting child exploitation materials.

Ms Horne said the Coyrne had been cooperative with police and made strides towards managing his life after the diagnosis.

The court heard Coyne had “grappled” with the impact of childhood trauma his whole life.

Mr Minuti outlined Coyne’s relevant criminal history which spanned across the country.

In 2002, while living in Victoria, Coyne was convicted of an indecent act with a child where he received a community-based sentence and was referred to a treatment program.

He was convicted once more in 2011 following similar acts, which also included downloading of 40-50 images depicting child exploitation.

Coyne was sentenced to four years in prison and deemed a reportable offender for life.

In May 2022, he was fined $1400 after being charged with two counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations.

On November 13, 2024, Coyne was arraigned and pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child exploitation material, one count of distributing child exploitation material, and one count of failing to report.

He was sentenced this week to a total of 16 months’ jail and must serve a third inside.

The sentence will then be suspended for an operational period of two years, and he will remain subject to child sex offender reporting conditions on release.