Simon Tiffen to be sentenced over child sex abuse against 3yo

A woman cried out “no” as a man was taken into custody for sexually abusing a three-year-old boy on the northern beaches and filming the assault on his phone.

Northern beaches man Simon Robert Tiffen has been charged with indecent assault of a child. Picture: Toby Zerna

A woman cried out “no” in court as a man who filmed himself sexually abusing a three-year old boy on the northern beaches was taken into custody.

Simon Robert Tiffen appeared before Downing Centre District Court on Thursday to be sentenced on charges of assaulting and exposing himself to a child in April 2018 in Warriewood and filming the abuse on his phone.

Police found the footage on a hard drive during a search of Tiffen’s home in March 2020, finding more child abuse material as well as “thousands” of pornographic images and various videos of Tiffen having sex with men.

In June 2022, Tiffen pleaded guilty to three charges, including indecent assault of a child, producing child abuse material and possessing child abuse material.

After an adjourned sentence hearing on December 9 due to a medical appointment, Tiffen and his defence team appeared before court on Thursday.

Northern beaches man Simon Robert Tiffen leaving Downing Centre on February 26, 2021 after appearing on charges relating to child sex abuse. Picture: Toby Zerna

They requested a further adjournment to re-open proceedings on the basis of “whether the complainant was aware” of the act that was being committed.

A representative for the Director of Public Prosecutions stated that reopening the proceedings only “extends the length of the proceedings”.

Simon Tiffen arriving at Downing Centre Local Court on June 22, 2022. Picture: Nikki Short

“Whether the child was aware or not doesn’t mitigate the offence,” she said.

Judge Timothy Gartelmann said he would grant the application to adjourn to allow opportunity to produce fresh evidence, without determining whether the application (to re-open the proceedings) is to be granted.

Tiffen was taken into custody with Judge Gartelmann saying that the defence had not outlined why detention was not justified.

As he was led away, a woman supporting Tiffen cried out “no”.

At the sentencing hearing last week, Tiffen’s psychologist Michael James Costello stated that he believed Tiffen did have a pedophilic disorder.

“I still find him to be confused regarding his sexuality, that opinion hasn’t changed,” Mr Costello said.

“Does that mean I believe I think he has some kind of pedophilic disorder? I believe he does. “I believe he’s confused and possibly in denial about that.”

Tiffen will next appear before court on February 10, 2023 for sentencing.