Christian Medina to be sentenced for soliciting child abuse material

A southwest Sydney barber who conned a 13-year-old girl out of explicit pictures by posing as a female talent scout had been stashing child abuse material for years, a court has heard.

Southwest Sydney barber Christian Medina has pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse material.

A southwest Sydney barber who conned a 13-year-old girl into sending him explicit photos of herself by posing as a female model scout on Instagram was stashing child abuse material for decades before he was caught out, a court has heard.

Christian Medina, 41, had previously pleaded guilty to possessing or controlling child abuse material using a carriage service and using a carriage service to send indecent material to a person under 16 years and transmit child abuse material to himself.

Court documents state the Middleton Grange man created a made-up Instagram profile of a young female to request videos from a 13-year-old girl he found on social media.

He instructed her on how to pose, what parts of herself to expose and how close to hold the camera with the lure being a chance to secure a professional modelling contract.

When Medina asked the teenager to send topless content, he told her, “the reason I ask for these videos is so you don’t get awkward. I want everything to be easy for you”.

Christian Medina.

At his sentence hearing on December 15, Medina said he had been abusing alcohol to cope with his mental health when the offences occurred.

Of Medina’s two victims, only one – whose report to police resulted in his arrest and charges – has been identified.

A solicitor read out the girl’s victim impact statement at Campbelltown District Court.

“Even in a crowded public place, I still get anxious about what could happen to me near unknown males,” the girl wrote.

“It has made me lose trust in all males – it makes me feel concerned about my future, it makes me worry about being able to trust a male enough to be my partner as I grow up.”

A statement read by the girl’s mother described how her “happy, confident and trusting child” had become “guarded, untrusting, distant and removed”.

“I hope with time, patience, and support we can help her regain her confidence in the world again,” the mother said through tears.

Christian Medina.

Medina acknowledged he had first downloaded child abuse material in his 20s and had kept it on a hard drive up until his arrest.

“You still can’t figure out why you did this?” the Crown asked.

“It’s a work in progress,” Medina responded.

“You did not think you were hurting anyone because you were only asking for photos?” the Crown asked.

“I definitely did not understand, I’m understanding more that it’s not always just a physical thing, hurting somebody,” Medina responded.

He will be sentenced next year.

Medina told the court he had been unable to work and had barely left the house since his arrest due to his strict bail conditions and community backlash after his crimes were publicised.

“Apart from the financial stress, I feel extremely depressed, shameful, my parents have to be with me all the time, they can’t live their lives,” Medina told the court.

“I feel worthless, I don’t feel human, I’ve got nothing.”

Medina addressed the victim’s mother directly after rejecting a suggestion made in a sentencing assessment report that he was more concerned with the repercussions of his offending for himself – rather than the victim.

“With all due respect, I’m extremely sorry, I can’t take what I did back,” Medina said.

“I’m really sorry and whatever happens to me, I want her to have a decent life and start believing again in humanity.”

Medina will be sentenced in March next year.