Palmo perv downloaded child abuse videos ‘because he was a bit depressed’, court hears

A Palmerston man who downloaded almost 12,000 child abuse images and videos because he was ‘feeling a bit depressed’ will be assessed for home detention.

Robert Rowe, 49, runs from the Supreme Court while trying to avoid waiting media after pleading guilty to downloading child abuse material.

A PALMERSTON man who downloaded almost 12,000 child abuse images and videos because he was “feeling a bit depressed” will be assessed for home detention.

Robert Andrew Rowe, 49, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to accessing and possessing the material following a raid on his house in Farrar in February.

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Commonwealth prosecutor Catherine Ferguson told the court Rowe downloaded 11,944 child abuse files, some of which featured children as young as three, between 2011 and 2019.

Ms Ferguson said Rowe was arrested at the house he shared with his mother on February 28 following a joint raid by NT and federal police before admitting to downloading the material.

“(He said) he first encountered child abuse material when he searched for the term ‘Lolita’, trying to find the movie and a lot of movie files using that name came up,” she said.

“(He said) he did not know the material was child abuse material until he opened it, he stated he did not search for abuse but ‘just for like that 18, 19 that sort of Lolita age’.

“He said he thinks the last time he searched for that material was in the middle of last year when he was ‘feeling a bit depressed’.”

Rowe covers his face in an effort to avoid the cameras.

Ms Ferguson said Rowe denied getting sexual gratification from watching the material or being sexually attracted to children but said he knew it was “wrong”.

“(He said) ‘I knew it was illegal and I got sort of excited that I’m doing something illegal’,” she said.

“(He said) ‘I know it’s wrong but it’s in my home, I’m not hurting anyone (but) it’s illegal and I shouldn’t be doing it’.”

Rowe’s lawyer, Peter Bellach, requested his client be assessed for home detention as well as supervision on a suspended sentence.

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Justice Graham Hiley adjourned the hearing until next month when a date will be set for sentencing.

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