Liam Joseph Eastwell sentenced in Port Macquarie court for possessing child abuse material

Girls aged between 3 and 12 appeared in sex abuse photos and videos ‘young and expressionless’ in hidden folders on a man’s computer at the time he was a police officer.

Liam Joseph Eastwell leaves Port Macquarie District Court on February 2 after being sentenced for possessing child abuse material.

Girls as young as three appeared in sexual abuse photos and videos ‘young and expressionless’ hidden on a Mid-North Coast man’s computer who was a police officer at the time.

Liam Joseph Eastwell from Kundabung is no longer with the police force and has been on bail following his arrest at the Port Macquarie Police Station on June 15 last year.

During his arrest a detective said to him “mate, you might need to get some help over this problem” to which Eastwell replied “yeah, I know”.

In December, the 24-year-old pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse material and on Friday he appeared before Judge Leonie Flannery for sentencing where he avoided going to jail.

Eastwell applied to join the police force in June 2021 and a year later was accepted, beginning duties in the Richmond district in June 2022.

His lawyer told the court that Eastwell had not accessed the materials in recent years and that he was a young man with no record.

She said being an ex-police officer - and due to the media bringing attention to the case - he would be particularly vulnerable if sent to jail.

Liam Joseph Eastwell leaves Port Macquarie District Court on February 2 after being sentenced for possessing child abuse material.

According to documents tendered to court there were close to 30 photos and four videos depicting child sexual abuse found hidden on a Keepsake ‘vault’ belonging to Eastwell after officers from the Professionals Standard Command attended his home in Casino in May 23 and seized several devices.

In addition to the default folders on the Keepsake vault, Eastwell had created four more with names such as To Send, Fun and Random.

The children depicted were girls aged between three and 12. Some were asleep, partially or fully undressed and performing sexual acts including digital penetration and felatio.

One photo showed a line of naked girls standing in front of two men.

The videos depicted girls undressing or performing sex acts and, according to court documents, they all appeared ‘young and expressionless’.

Liam Joseph Eastwell leaves Port Macquarie District Court on February 2 after being sentenced for possessing child abuse material.

It was heard in court that the materials were used for Eastwell’s sexual gratification and he did not share them with others for money or participate in any forums.

In delivering her decision, Justice Flannery said she accepted that Eastwell had not accessed the material since May 2020 and at the time would have been just 21. The court also heard in 2021, he moved a video to the recycling bin on his computer.

She also said in comparison to other cases of this kind, there was not a “huge number” of images and videos involved.

Eastwell avoided time behind bars and was given a two-year community corrections order to be of good behaviour and continue counselling.