Schofields truck driver Gavin ‘Robins’ Gunst pleads guilty to possessing child abuse material

A former NSW Police employee who was busted with thousands of child abuse images and videos has avoided being remanded in custody as he awaits sentence. Find out why.

Gavin Lee Gunst leaving before Penrith District Court. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

A western Sydney truck driver and former NSW Police analyst busted with more than 2000 child abuse videos will remain free after a court quashed a police bid to have him detained.

Gavin Lee Gunst, 54, of Riverstone, appeared before Penrith District Court after pleading guilty last year to three counts of possessing child abuse material.

Gunst, who also goes by the surname Robins, was residing with his mother in Sydney’s northwest in January 2021 when police burst in and seized six electronic devices.

Agreed police facts recited by Judge Sophia Beckett in court reveal on a Dell PC tower hardrive police uncovered 2300 child abuse videos and 11,208 child abuse images.

Hundreds more images and videos were located on the other devices, including those depicting pre-pubescent children engaged in sex acts, agreed facts reveal.

Penrith local court generic

“The quantity of the material is significant, including video and photographs all apparently relating to young male boys – though the age is not specified,” Justice Beckett said.

“Gunst admitted ownership of the devices to police, and told officers he used an application to access and download the child abuse material.”

Following his arrest, Gunst was granted bail by the Penrith Local Court.

But, after pleading guilty late last year, the prosecutor sought his detention.

Doing so, Gunst’s lawyer said, would impact ongoing psychological treatment, with letters from Gunst’s treating psychologist tendered to the court revealing suspicions he had autism.

“Gunst’s psychologist said autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is a specialist area of the medical field and could not be done while in custody,” Gunst’s lawyer said.

The court heard Gunst had limited criminal history and lives with his mother, who is currently undergoing treatment in Blacktown Hospital.

Gavin Lee Gunst leaving before Penrith District Court. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

If Gunst was detained, his lawyer said it would leave his mother “homeless”.

The court also heard Gunst had undergone two serious heart surgeries, including in 2015.

In her judgment, Justice Beckett said while there was a “high likelihood” Gunst would face a custodial sentence it was not an “inevitability”, and quashed the detention application.

Gunst will reappear before the same court for sentencing on July 26.

He will remain on strict conditional bail.

Gunst is prohibited from approaching or being in the company of children, and is not allowed to access social media or search engines – including Google, except for navigation.