Simon Stratten sentenced for child abuse material offences

The parents of two young children who were used to create child abuse material by a Sydney tradie have unveiled their anguish about the man’s vile actions.

Simon Stratten.

A Sydney tradie who photographed young, vulnerable children in sexualised ways was caught out when he sent the vile images to horrified users on Grindr.

A court has heard how Simon Stratten shattered two families when he captured disgusting sexual images of their young children, who were both under 10 when it occurred.

The details of Stratten’s sick photographs are too graphic and distressing to repeat.

Stratten, 50, pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child abuse material and two counts of disseminating child abuse material over the appalling incidents.

But he will not spend another day in jail beyond the month he was behind bars on remand after Magistrate Miranda Moody gave him an opportunity to rehabilitate himself in the community.

The Wyong man – who was living in Maroubra when the offences occurred – will instead serve a three-year supervised community correction order with 300 hours of community service.

The devastated parents of the two boys and their supporters were visibly aghast when they learned the man who abused their children would not serve any more prison time.

A victim services co-ordinator read out four victim impact statements from the children’s parents, who were deeply emotional throughout the grim sentencing process.

The mother of the first child – the younger of the two victims – said Stratten’s actions had a “profound and devastating impact” on her family.

“That day when he took inappropriate photos (of my child) continue to haunt my thoughts,” the younger child’s mother wrote.

“I’m now constantly concerned about the wellbeing of my children.”

The younger child’s father said he worries constantly for his child’s welfare.

“I worry (my child’s) innocence has been lost,” he wrote.

The older victim’s father described Stratten’s actions as “unforgivable”.

“My world shattered,” the older victim’s father wrote.

“They say time is a healer – but I will never heal from what this monster has done.”

The older victim’s mother also described the traumatic experience of her child being interviewed by detectives.

“(My child) expressed a range of emotional reactions – confusion, guilt and shame,” the older victim’s mother wrote.

“(My child) kept saying that being interviewed must mean he had done something wrong.”

Stratten’s despicable offending ultimately came to light in 2022 when he sent the images to Grindr users, one of whom was “horrified” and reported it immediately to authorities.

When they understood he would not serve further prison time, the children’s tearful supporters shook their heads in dismay.

The magistrate reinforced to the victims’ parents that she did not minimise Stratten’s actions at all in opting not to give him a prison term.

The court had earlier heard Stratten was experiencing confusion in his sexuality and loneliness during the pandemic before the offending occurred.

Ms Moody acknowledged Stratten was a first-time offender, would become a registered child sex offender, and ruled it was in the community’s interest that he be rehabilitated outside a custodial setting.

“There is no question he is deeply remorseful,” Ms Moody said of Stratten.

“He has already spent a month in custody, with no criminal record – that would have been a salient lesson for him and probably a frightening experience.”