Glen Michael Stair convicted of possessing child abuse material

A Nambour man has learned his punishment in court after police searched his home and uncovered thousands of files of child abuse material.

Glen Michael Stair leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Nambour man convicted of possessing thousands of files containing child abuse material has been sentenced in a Maroochydore court.

Glen Michael Stair, 48, appeared in the Maroochydore District Court on Monday, July 17 where he pleaded guilty to five charges of possessing, accessing and transmitting child abuse material over a period of one year.

Commonwealth director of public prosecutions prosecutor Mathew Thompson told the court Stair had finished parole for separate charges approximately one month before the offences regarding child abuse material began to take place between September 2020 and October 2021.

“The parole for the order finished on August 2020 and the first offence before your honour today was committed in September of 2020,” Mr Thompson said.

Mr Thompson told the court Stair told federal police officers he had lost his phone when they interviewed him after they searched his property and uncovered seven devices that contained child abuse material.

“In total there were 5366 files possessed across seven devices,” Mr Thompson said.

Defence barrister Robert Glenday told the court Stair had a methamphetamine problem and was engaged with a psychologist for PTSD.

“His criminal history is predominantly drugs and dishonesty type offences,” Mr Glenday said.

Maroochydore District judge Gary Long told the court the material depicted the “egregiousness of the abuse of vulnerable members of the community”.

“The only appropriate method of dealing with you is to impose sentences of imprisonment,” Mr Long said.

Mr Long sentenced Stair to two and a half years’ prison, released immediately with a recognisance payment of $1000 and two years of supervision by a parole officer.

Stair had spent 255 days in pre-sentence custody.