IT worker David Slyderink pleads guilty to grooming, child exploitation material charges

A former Sunshine Coast university contractor has admitted to taking part in egregious conversations online about sexually abusing an undercover cop’s young niece and nephew.

David Slyderink appeared in Maroochydore District Court last week. Picture: Patrick Woods

A once respected IT worker contracted to work at the University of the Sunshine Coast is sitting in a jail cell after admitting to trying to procure two children from an undercover operative and engaging in heinous child sexual abuse chats online.

David Slyderink’s perverted conversations were aired in Maroochydore District Court last week following his pleas of guilty to grooming a carer of a child for a sexual act along with distributing and possessing child exploitation material.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark said the 52-year-old worked as a contractor for the tertiary institution at Sippy Downs when he began to speak to an undercover police officer, who purported to be a 38-year-old living in South Australia.

Over the span of a month in mid-2023, Mr Stark said Slyderink was “proactive” when he spoke to the operative about sexual abuse of children.

The court heard the details of Slyderink’s lurid and heinous messages which were far too graphic to publish, however he “encouraged” her to chat about it even though it was “taboo”.

Slyderink was previously contracted to work at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Pictured is a generic image of a university building.

In some chats the former IT contractor spoke to the fictional identity about her fake niece and nephew, her access to them and about them being sexually abused by him and the aunty.

Mr Stark said Slyderink would periodically send photos of his penis and spoke about masturbating in the workplace bathroom at the university.

The court was told he also sent 24 computer generated images and one video of child sexual abuse but spoke about how “realistic” they were.

Slyderink’s disturbing conversations were referred to Queensland Police and his hinterland home was raided in July, 2023 where 70 child exploitation images and videos were found on his electronic devices, which were a mix of real and computer generated material.

The court heard these files were made available through the 52-year-old’s chats online.

In his conversations with police following the search warrant, the court heard Slyderink downplayed his gross offending and said it was a way for him to “escape” stress from work and in his marriage.

He pleaded guilty to all charges. Picture: Patrick Woods

Defence barrister Benjamin Taylor clarified that Slyderink, who came from a prejudicial upbringing in Victoria, did not openly “seek out” the material but spoke to the fictitious identity in a “fantastical sense”, with there being no actual arrangements made to meet up.

Mr Taylor put to the court Slyderink was also in a state of shock during the time of the police raid, which would explain his rather contradictory statements to detectives.

The court heard the Woombye man was a handy information and technology worker, excelling his way up to being an IT project manager at the university. He accepted however he may not be able to work in the industry again due to the nature of his charges.

His barrister said Slyderink was also a carer for his wife, with his inevitable incarceration going to have a large impact on his family.

Judge Cash accepted the 52-year-old admitted to sending messages fantasising about sexual activity with children however there were no suggestions he had done this in the real world.

The District Court Judge however said even with Slyderink’s lack of criminal history, he sentenced him under the principles that courts should impose sentences for conduct which “will not be tolerated in a civilised society”.

Slyderink was jailed for 18 months, to be suspended after he served five months.