Daniel Joseph Hunter: Kirrawee debt collector jailed for trading child abuse images, videos
A south Sydney man has learnt his fate for sharing and possessing hundreds of child abuse images he received and sent via a chat app. Find out his punishment for the shocking crimes.
St George Shire Standard
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A former debt collector has been jailed for at least five years after police uncovered “depraved” and “disgusting” child abuse photos and videos he traded on a chat room app.
Daniel Joseph Hunter, 43, appeared in Sydney Downing Centre on Friday, where Judge Robyn Tupman sentenced him to eight years and six months in prison with a non-parole period of five years and six months.
Australian Federal Police officers arrested Hunter on January 29, 2021 at his Sydney office where he worked as a debt collector for a credit company before they executed a search warrant at his Kirrawee home.
Hunter pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse material, using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material and an aggravated offence of using a carriage service to transmit such material.
Investigators discovered Hunter had signed up to the app Kik, using a false name, from January 20 to 28, where he traded, transmitted, solicited and accessed images and videos with other users in one-on-one conversations and a group chat.
Police found hundreds of images he had downloaded from the app and saved in his phone photo gallery that he used for sexual gratification.
The court heard Hunter used a Facebook photo of a former work colleague’s nine-year-old daughter to initiate the sharing of material with other users, where he claimed she was his daughter “Audrey”, who he sexually assaulted.
Over the eight days, Hunter used the alias ‘Ben Cummins’ to create a burner email address before initiating conversations with three other men over the dark web.
Then, on the chat platform Kik, he received a total of 436 child abuse images and 60 videos.
The court heard he engaged in conversations detailing the disturbing “gross” fantasies of what he wanted to do to children.
He regularly asked other users to send him images and videos, and he, in turn, sent them to others.
The court heard there was no evidence Hunter had any sexual interaction with any children, nor was he
involved in the creation of the material, but there were more than 20 boys and girls, aged from as young as a toddler, depicted in photos and videos he received or sent.
“Child abuse material is not a victimless crime,” Judge Tupman said.
“The videos and images involve real children who are victimised and re-victimised every time it is transmitted.”
Judge Tupman also considered that the offences occurred over a short period but noted by Hunter’s own admission that he had infrequently sought out child abuse material through the internet from July 2020.
The court heard Hunter was single, never married, lived with his parents and had an ordinary upbringing before he worked in bars and clubs.
He developed a gambling addiction and abused alcohol before becoming a debt collector.
The court heard Hunter had been involved in the community, having coached his nephews’ soccer and cricket teams but had racked up a $100,000 gambling debt.
A psychologist report noted Hunter was lonely, depressed, overweight and had low self-esteem but never sought mental health treatment.
Hunter told the psychologist he did not have a paedophilic interest or fantasised about minors but that Judge Tupman could not accept that given the nature of his offences.
He told the court he was “disgusted” with himself.
Judge Tupman found Hunter had no prior convictions, was willing to accept treatment and showed real remorse.
She accepted Hunter was at a low risk of reoffending, especially if he sought treatment in custody and while on parole.
During the sentence, Hunter wiped away tears and after the jail term was read out, he shook his head and held it in his hands.
Hunter will be eligible for release to parole on July 28, 2026.
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