Daniel Joseph Cotter in court for possessing child exploitation material

The discovery of a single photo, concealed in a convicted Fraser Coast child sex offender’s draft emails, brought the former bookkeeper and delivery driver undone.

Daniel Joseph Cotter, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing or controlling child exploitation material when he faced Hervey Bay District Court this week.

The discovery of a single photo led to a convicted child sex offender being sentenced to three years in prison.

Daniel Joseph Cotter, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing or controlling child exploitation material when he faced Hervey Bay District Court this week.

The court heard because of Cotter’s status as a reportable offender, he was subjected to searches of his devices on request, and that was exactly what happened the day the photo was found.

Police had attended Cotter’s Kawungan home on March 6, 2023, to examine his devices.

He was compliant and handed over his phone, the court heard.

Police examined it and discovered in the draft folder of his email application a draft email that had one photo attached to it that was classified as child abuse material.

The image depicted a female child aged 10 to 16 naked and engaged in a sexualised pose with the title “sexy Sienna”.

The details of the draft email indicated it was created back in 2021, the court heard.

The court heard Cotter had a “very relevant” criminal history, and there had been three occasions for which he had been before the court for contact sexual offending or child abuse material type offending.

In one incident he was convicted of attempted indecent treatment of a child in which he had inappropriately touched a 12-year-old boy.

On that occasion he had been sentenced to eight months jail, of which he served three months, the court heard.

Cotter was later sentenced in regard to three complainants, all boys, in relation to rape, maintaining and sexual relationship with a child and indecent dealing.

Daniel Joseph Cotter, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing or controlling child exploitation material when he faced Hervey Bay District Court this week. Photo: Tracey Joynson

While most of the offending in that matter involved “masturbatory type offending”, the rape involved “penile-mouth penetration”.

Cotter was sentenced to five years in prison and served the whole sentence after he did not apply for parole.

In separate offending involving child exploitation material offences, Cotter was caught with about 18,700 images and 107 videos.

That occurred about six months after he was released from prison.

Cotter was sentenced to three years in prison with a parole eligibility date.

The court heard he had endured a difficult childhood, and struggled with mental health issues.

He had health issues including a cardiac condition, but had shown capacity to be a contributing member of the community, previously working as a bookkeeper, delivery driver, truck driver and various other roles.

Cotter’s defence barrister said the offence consisted of one photo which was comparatively low level offending.

Judge Michael Burnett sentenced Cotter to three years, three months and 15 days in prison and a single non-parole period of three months was fixed.

Bruce Highway breakthrough: $467m budget boost for hell highway

1600 tested in major police crackdown at car event