Elliott man John Nettleton pleads guilty to sexual abuse and procuring of overseas children
An Elliott man has professed he is the “scapegoat of unreal intentions” while pleading guilty to a raft of serious sexual abuse against children in Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
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An Elliott man has professed he is the “scapegoat of unreal intentions” while pleading guilty to a raft of serious sexual abuse charges against children in Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
John Oldfield Nettleton, 39, appeared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to 53 charges, including seven counts of procuring children under 16 to engage in sexual activity outside Australia.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia, plus 12 counts of preparing for planning to engage in sexual intercourse with a child.
Nettleton, who has now repeatedly changed lawyers as his case has dragged through the courts over four years, also finally pleaded guilty on Tuesday a count of producing child abuse material in the Philippines.
He also pleaded guilty to 24 counts of using a carriage service to transmit, solicit or possess child abuse material, including transmitting it to children under 16.
However, Nettleton struggled to answer to a charge of engaging in persistent sexual abuse of a young boy in the Philippines during 2017.
“It’s difficult for me to plead guilty on this one,” he said.
“I’m 50-50.”
Justice Tamara Jago directed a plea of not guilty be entered.
Nettleton also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of producing child exploitation material in the Philippines.
From the court docks, he said there was a “harm difference” between the “willing fellatio” he admitted to, compared to the rape of boys – which he said he did not do.
Justice Jago confirmed the acts of sexual intercourse he was charged with by the Commonwealth related to oral sex.
He said he had to plead guilty – “because of the media” and because of “the broad-sweeping laws that say I must plead guilty”.
“I am the scapegoat of unreal intentions here,” Nettleton told the court.
In court last week, defence barrister Stephen Wright said he anticipated Nettleton would plead guilty to all counts on the indictment – with the expectation the Crown would not proceed with a further 18 charges across two separate indictments.
At the time, he said he would step away from the case if that changed and the matter went to trial.
On Tuesday, he said he would communicate with Nettleton about those two charges before a trial was set down. 6
Nettleton, who also pleaded guilty to six counts of encouraging the offence of sexual intercourse with a child, and one count of failing to comply with an order, will return to court on Thursday.
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Originally published as Elliott man John Nettleton pleads guilty to sexual abuse and procuring of overseas children
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