Robert Creely to appeal sentence for possessing child abuse material

A registered Nathalia sex offender who was found with more than 5000 child abuse videos and images on devices in his Nathalia home is appealing his jail sentence.

A registered sex offender was found with more than 5000 child abuse videos and images on devices in his Nathalia home.

A registered Victorian sex offender has been busted with a stash of vile child abuse material on a swag of electronic devices after police were tipped off to his reoffending.

Robert Creely, 74, of Nathalia, faced Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Monday for possessing child abuse material and failing to comply with his reporting obligations after he was caught with 5366 grubby images and videos on multiple phones, a laptop, USB and a hard drive.

He pleaded guilty to the charges on February 28, 2025.

Cobram detectives began an investigation in November 2023 after receiving information about Creely.

The investigation found he was using an email address and an Instagram account which had not been disclosed, which is part of his reporting obligations as a registered sex offender.

Detectives closed the net on Creely’s on February 14, 2024 when they went to his home on February 14, 2024

When the officers entered the house Creely was using his laptop connected to a portable hard drive and they saw thumbnail images on the screen believed to be child abuse material.

Three phones, a laptop, a USB and a portable hard drive, along with pieces of paper with website and password details were seized.

Robert Creely, 74, appeared in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on April 7 to be sentenced for possessing child abuse material.

Creely was arrested and made a mostly “no comment” interview.

He was charged and bailed on August 30 last year.

Magistrate Victoria Campbell said Creely “knowingly and willingly participated” in promoting an “industry that harms children” by downloading the material.

Ms Campbell said she considered the risks to Creely when sentencing him including his age, health conditions and nature of his offending.

He was sentenced to 18-months jail with a non-parole period of nine months.

Creely was granted appeal bail with conditions, including restrictions on using the internet, social media and interacting with people younger than 18, to appear at the Shepparton County Court in May or June.