Rhiannon Hugo of East Maitland jailed for transmitting child abuse material

An East Maitland woman will spend just three more weeks behind bars after she was caught in an Australian Federal Police (AFP) sting transmitting child abuse material.

An East Maitland woman will spend just three more weeks behind bars after she was caught in an Australian Federal Police (AFP) sting downloading and transmitting child abuse material.

Rhiannon Hugo, 23, along with co-accused Tyson Murray, 23 were nabbed following an investigation where the AFP had received a referral from United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that an internet user believed to be based in Australia was transmitting child abuse material over chat platform, Kik.

Investigations by the AFP Eastern Command Child Protection Operations team identified Murray living in Charlestown, as the user of the account before they raided his home on November 6 last year.

Further investigations also lead to the arrest and raid of Hugo’s home that same day.

She pleaded guilty to use a carriage service to transmit child abuse and use a carriage service to transmit child abuse material to self.

In Newcastle District Court on Friday Hugo appeared via video link for sentencing.

The court heard Hugo possessed four videos of child abuse and transmitted three videos and there was an intention to disseminate it.

“I accept she possessed it for her own sexual gratification, but no suggestion it was for commercial distribution or financial gain,’’ Judge Christopher O’Brien said.

He noted to the court the offending was at the bottom end of what the court sees in these types of cases, and while it was “premeditated’’, it was “unsophisticated’’.

Rhiannon Hugo was sentenced in Newcastle District Court on Friday. Supplied Amy Ziniak

Judge O’Brien told the court her experience of disadvantage as a child reduced her moral culpability and he accepted her remorse for her actions, despite initially denying her involvement in the crimes.

Hugo was jailed for 18 months, but was issued a recognizance release order after 10 months and with time already served would see her released on November 26.

Conditions were that she be of good behaviour for a further two years on release and would undertake any rehabilitation programs deemed appropriate by community corrections.

Co-accused Murray pleaded guilty to possessing and controlling child abuse material using a carriage service, use a carriage service to access child abuse material and possession of child abuse material.

Currently on bail, he will be sentenced in Newcastle’s District Court in February next year.