Ex-Metro Trains inspector Andrew Harris pleads guilty to child pornography charges
A former Metro Trains ticket inspector and part-time Pakenham CFA member who uploaded child pornography to social media googled how to hide his lewd online behaviour, along with how to adopt children from Thailand.
South East
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A former Metro Trains ticket inspector was caught with child pornography after he uploaded vile abuse material to Tumblr, a court has heard.
Andrew Harris, 47, pleaded guilty in the County Court today to possession of child pornography, and two counts of possessing child abuse material.
Harris worked as a Metro authorised officer and part-time Pakenham CFA Lieutenant when he committed his lewd acts between September 25 and October 27, 2018.
Australian Federal Police launched an investigation after Harris uploaded 44 images and videos to Tumblr under the handle “hjkenny28.tumblr.com”.
Much of the uploaded material contained vile sex images of children.
Investigators linked the Tumblr account to Harris via his IP address, mobile number, email and Medicare and electoral roll information.
AFP Child Protection Operations investigators raided Harris’s Pakenham home on June 17, 2019.
Officers seized an iPad containing 69 images and 170 videos, some of sadism and bestiality.
Investigators – who reviewed the iPad’s internet search history – discovered dozens of searches for lewd material including naked children performing sex acts and incest.
Harris also searched “how to adopt children from Thailand”, how to conceal online activity, how to choose a good VPN and how to send messages in private.
Harris told police he used social media, and he may have a Tumblr account but “doesn’t normally use it”.
He told police the Tumblr account was for “things he liked” such as “wildlife”.
Harris gave “no comment” when questioned about the child porn and abuse material.
Judge Anne Hassan ordered Harris be assessed for a community corrections order.
Harris had his bail extended until sentencing on May 12.
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