Michael John Portwood in court for failing to report contact with 15-year-old

A man convicted of possessing child sex abuse material in February landed before the courts again after he spoke with a 15-year-old boy and failed to report it to the child protection register.

Michael John Portwood, 69, found himself in court for the second time this year after he failed to report contact with a 15-year-old boy to the Child Protection Registry.

A 69-year-old Gympie man convicted after being caught with hundreds of pictures of child expolitation material has appeared in court once more for failing to report interacting with a 15 year-old boy in July.

Michael John Portwood pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday to failing to report contact with a child to the Child Protection Register.

Portwood pleaded guilty in Albury Local Court in February 2021 to possessing child abuse material, after 715 photos of child porn were found on USB sticks and hard drives kept in a safe in 2019.

He was placed on the child protection register as a result, and was ordered to report any interactions with children until 2029.

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The court heard Portwood was living with his daughter at Gympie, when he spoke with a 15-year-old boy living at the house.

The police prosecutor said police arrived at the house on July 27 to find the 15-year-old living on the property, and that Portwood had said “hi” to the child several times and not reported it to the register.

Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said the 15-year-old was Portwood’s grandson’s friend.

Mr Anderson said his client hardly leaves his room at his daughter’s house, unless to get food or to use the bathroom.

“He’s largely excluded himself from the world since his sentencing event from this year,” Mr Anderson said.

He said since the incident his client has written a list of the children who may visit the house.

Portwood was fined $400 for the offence.

A conviction was recorded.