Eben Manser, 47, collected thousands of pieces of child pornography and shared it online

A primary school staff member amassed thousands of pieces of sexual abuse material and even traded it online. Find out what happened in court.

Eben Manser sentenced over distributing and collecting child porn.

A Gold Coast father and primary school staffer who amassed thousands of pieces of child pornography watched it almost everyday, a Gold Coast court has been told.

Eben Manser’s home was raided by police in October last year as part of a wider operation targeting the distribution of child exploitation material, when his disturbing collection was uncovered.

More than 2000 images and 71 videos were found on his devices. The content included children performing sexual acts on each other as well as adults involved in intercourse with minors, some of which were under 13-years-of-age. The Ashmore man’s wife and two children were home when the search warrant was carried out. Eben told officers he used a VPN to mask his internet use and then exchanged the graphic material through encrypted messaging apps.

Eben Manser charged with possessing and distributing child porn.

The 47-year-old appeared in Southport District Court on Monday charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material. Police prosecutor Josie Salzman said Manser had admitted to investigating officers he first became involved in child porn “to see if he could find it” on the internet.

“He said it had become somewhat of an obsession for him. He looked at it most days. He told Police that he did find it a little bit arousing,” Ms Salzman told the court.

“The defendant had distributed child exploitation images and videos on fifteen occasions to nine different people and on one of these occasions it involved links to folders containing over 1000 child exploitation images and videos.”

The court was told the father of two was working as an IT manager at a Murwullimbah primary school at the time offending and was in a long-term marriage of more than 20 years. His wife was in court to support him.

Manser’s defence barrister Ambyr Cousen said her client had taken steps to receive psychological assessment and treatment since being charged and was at low risk of reoffending with ongoing treatment. Manser pleaded guilty to both charges and in sentencing Judge Jodie Wooldridge accepted it as another sign of his co-operation and admission to his offending.

“I accept your pleas of guilty are consistent with your expressions of remorse,” Judge Wooldridge said.

“To your favour, once your child pornography addiction became known you did express an intention to get help to overcome it and you have taken steps on that path.”

Judge Wooldridge acknowledged the attempts for rehabilitation were among the mitigating factor but still did not detract from the serious penalties that the offences carried.

Manser was sentenced to three years jail. He was taken immediately into custody where he’ll have to serve at least six months before he can be released on parole.