David Edgecock faces court after using same child sex chat line as disgraced former NRL star Brett Finch

A man used the same child abuse chat line as disgraced former NRL star Brett Finch to discuss sickening fantasies, including harming babies. Here’s how Finch’s case influenced the penalty.

David Edgecock used the same child-sex chat line as Brett Finch to discuss sickening underage fantasies.

A man who shared sickening child sex fantasies using the same chat line as Brett Finch has avoided jail.

David Paul Edgecock, 44, faced Coffs Harbour District Court on Thursday.

He pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to access child abuse material and using a carriage service to distribute child abuse material.

The facts state Edgecock sent voice messages to a man, not knowing of his status as a convicted child sex offender, discussing sexual fantasies involving babies and underage girls on December 3, 2020.

Judge Jonathan Priestley described the facts of the case as “irredeemably grotesque”.

At one stage, Edgecock fantasised about causing pain to under age women and babies, the court heard.

David Edgecock used the same child-sex chat line as Brett Finch to discuss sickening underage fantasies.

“The younger the better. She is f--king screaming but we don't care,” he said in reference to a baby girl.

Facts reveal disturbing fantasies relating to young girls performing fellatio in graphic terms.

Mr Priestley described the audio log as a “discussion of depravity”.

Police investigated Edgecock’s case along with former NRL star Brett Finch and two other men, who were all sentenced earlier this year.

On November 21 last year, police examined Edgecock’s phone and discovered he had accessed audio narrations depicting sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl.

Mr Priestley said it was a less serious offence for Edgecock to have only accessed the material, however, considered it in sentencing.

The person on the other end of Edgecock’s vile fantasies was a convicted child sex offender.

The defence case argued no children were directly harmed by Edgecock and he did not act on the vile fantasies.

Mr Priestley said the material risked “feeding abnormal fantasies”.

“There is an increased probability of the fantasy becoming real,” he said.

Mr Priestly addressed that Edgecock was unaware he had been speaking with a convicted child sex offender.

“Yet, he could hardly think he was dealing with a balanced mind,” he said.

Crown prosecutor Rabih El-Hage said Edgecock fed the needs of a child sex offender.

Mr Priestley took into account Edgecock’s first words during the chat were: “It’s all fantasy man”.

Edgecock grew up in Tamworth and worked as a glass panel fitter from age 18.

There was no evidence to suggest he suffered trauma or child abuse.

A psychiatric report revealed the unexpected death of his father months before the offending impacted him and he turned to cannabis to cope.

Edgecock felt remorse, regret and shame for his actions, the court heard.

The report stated Edgecock was “not attracted to children”, but created a fantasy world.

Judge Jonathan Priestley said the material risked “feeding abnormal fantasies”.

The court heard Edgecock had quit cannabis and porn, was attending psychiatric consultations and displayed awareness about the impact of child abuse.

Mr Priestley said there were “exceptional circumstances”, which meant Edgecock could serve his sentence in the community, rather than jail.

He said local media coverage on Edgecock’s case played a role in deterrence through humiliation.

“The paramount interest is general deterrence given public attitudes toward child sex abuse,” he said.

The court accepted Edgecock’s fantasy was unsophisticated and unplanned and his offending was out of character.

He also considered Edgecock’s co-operation with police and prospects of rehabilitation.

Edgecock was sentenced to an 18 month intensive corrections order, with strict conditions including the need to engage with sex offender programs and rehabilitation.