Convicted child sex offender dad in Brisbane Court for trading explicit pics of his own toddlers

A convicted child sex offender took pictures of his own toddlers and shared them online in exchange being given child pornography, a Brisbane court has heard.

A convicted child sex offender took pictures of his own toddlers and shared them online in exchange for child pornography, a court has heard. FILE PHOTO

A convicted child sex offender has returned to court for taking explicit photos of his own children and trading them for child pornography, a court has heard.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his children, faced Brisbane District Court on Friday, June 14.

The court heard the man took explicit photos of his son, then aged three, and his partner’s daughter, then aged one, while they were bathing some years ago.

He also took a photo of himself inappropriately touching the girl.

Chief Judge Brian Devereaux said it seemed the purpose was to trade the photos for explicit images of other children.

He said the man shared the photos on encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp.

In return he received photographs depicting children between the ages of five and 10 in sexually explicit positions, he said.

The man had commented in response that “he was aroused”, Judge Devereaux said.

He said the man had cooperated with police and told them he had relapsed into child sexual offending due to poor mental health.

The court heard the man had previously been sentenced to 23 months in jail for earlier child sex offences.

A psychologist’s report outlined how the man’s deeply troubled upbringing continued to affect him.

It said the man met the criteria to be diagnosed as a pedophile.

But he had “expressed concern and repulsion at his own conduct,” according to the report.

Judge Devereaux acknowledged the defence’s submission that the offending was less serious than other similar cases.

“It really doesn’t take away, however, from the effects of your offending on the child’s mother – and it’s supposed she can glean actual effects on the child too,” he said.

“(These sort of offences) have real effects on people, real living people.”

The man pleaded guilty to making child exploitation material, distributing child exploitation material, indecent treatment of a child under 12 (DV), and failing to comply with his reporting conditions.

He received a head sentence of three years and eight months in jail and his 233 days in presentence custody were declared time served.

Parole eligibility was set for June 14, 2025.