Psychologist says man who indecently assaulted boy, 3, doesn’t have pedophilic disorder

A man “confused about his sexuality” was found with a stash of child abuse material, including a movie he made on a lawnmower. WARNING: Graphic content

A man from Sydney’s northern beaches rubbed his penis against a three-year-old boy and filmed it while on a ride-on lawnmower before police found a stash of child abuse material at his home two years later, a court has been told.

Simon Robert Tiffen faced the Downing Centre District Court for a sentencing hearing on Wednesday after pleading guilty to performing an act of indecency on a child and creating and possessing child abuse material.

A clinical psychologist said Simon Tiffen was ‘confused’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

According to a statement of agreed facts tendered in court, Tiffen was mowing a lawn in April 2018 when the boy stood on the ride-on mower in between Tiffen’s legs.

Using a mobile phone, Tiffen filmed as he touched the fully-clothed boy’s genitalia with his index finger.

The court was told Tiffen later exposed his penis and touched the back of the boy.

Video of the assault was download to a hard drive that was located by police when they raided Tiffen’s home in March 2020 and found a stash of child abuse material.

In court, clinical psychologist Michael Costello appeared to give evidence about Tiffen’s state of mind.

Tiffen remains out on bail despite the guilty pleas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

His case returns to court in September. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Costello said Tiffen had indicated he suffered long-term mental health issues and wanted to ensure his actions were never repeated.

“I know if you look at the information I have in front of me now there seems to be an attraction to children there … I think he’s very confused about his sexuality,” Mr Costello said.

“He denies being attracted to men and yet there’s videos of him having sex with men.”

Mr Costello told the court that he did not believe Tiffen had a pedophilic disorder, but he suggested there was a link between the criminal conduct and trauma Tiffen suffered as a child.

“I believe he engaged in sexual activity at times for the attention he gains,” Mr Costello said.

“He came in and told me there’s nothing wrong with him. He needs to come to terms with what happened to him as a child.”

After Tiffen’s barrister asked for more time to gather more expert evidence, Judge Tim Gartelmann SC adjourned sentencing proceedings to September 9.

Originally published as Psychologist says man who indecently assaulted boy, 3, doesn’t have pedophilic disorder