One-time diplomat, CEO, pleads guilty to child sex grooming after undercover police sting
A former top diplomat who posted a lewd Craigslist ad wanting “schoolboys” for sex and was tricked by undercover police has blamed an unlikely source for his crimes.
South East
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A former top diplomat who pleaded guilty to groooming a 14-year-old boy for sex has blamed Corrections Victoria for his lewd conduct.
John Finnin, 64, pleaded guilty in the County Court on June 13 to one charge of using a carrier service to procure a child under 16 for sexual activity.
The court heard Finnin had communicated with a police officer who posed as a 14-year-old boy named “Will Cooper”.
Police were tipped off about Finnin in April 2018 after he posted an ad on Craigslist looking for “school boys”.
He specifically wanted boys aged 18 who lived in Seaford, Carrum and Chelsea.
Finnin described himself as a 60-year-old, good looking, skinny and unemployed man, and included explicit details of his sexual preferences.
Finnin also posted that he liked boys who liked “fetishes”, that he could “teach timid and shy boys” and he was looking for fun.
Investigators first used the alias to contact Finnin via messaging app Kik on September 9, 2018.
Finnin, under the handle “Johnny Boy”, communicated with “Will” in a sexual manner.
“Will” told Finnin that he was 14 but would be turning 15 in November.
Finnin replied he was a “boy lover”.
“I love boys your size,” he said.
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“I can teach you things you would like and you could use in the future.”
Finnin attempted to meet the boy at Seaford station several times but became suspicious after “Will” failed to verify his identity via video chat.
“Whilst I’m disappointed, I’m not angry or annoyed,” Finnin said.
Police arrested Finnin and seized his phone on September 19.
Finnin, a former Australian diplomat who has held chief executive positions, hasn’t worked since he was jailed for seven years in 2009 for sex crimes against an underage boy.
As the Australian Trade Commission’s regional director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Finnin was once one of the country’s most senior diplomats.
Defence barrister Hayley Bate said the “epic failure” of Corrections Victoria to not place Finnin on a sex offender program while in he was in prison could partly explain his offending.
“(This is an) embarrassing failure to protect the community,” she said.
“My client doesn’t have the insight to action or seek specialist instruction.”
However, Judge George Georgiou questioned Finnin’s responsibility.
“There’s also the failings of your client,” he said.
“I don’t know if the failings of corrections (if there was one) caused the failings of your client.”
Ms Bate also said Finnin’s “fall from grace” was the “understatement of the century”.
The matter was adjourned until September 25.
Finnin, a registered sex offender for life, had his bail extended.