Ben McCormack attacked outside Sydney court

Former Nine Network reporter Ben McCormack attacked outside court after getting three year bond for child pornography charges.

Suspended Nine Network journalist Ben McCormack. Picture: AAP

Former A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack has been attacked by a local man outside the Downing Centre Court this afternoon.

The unknown man spent more than an hour waiting outside the courthouse alongside the gathered media for Mr McCormack to emerge from his sentencing on child pornograph charges.

Witnesses observed the man swearing under his breath about wanting to “kill the grub” and holding a large disposable coffee cup to his lips.

When Mr McCormack finally left court with his solicitor, Sam Macedone, the attacker yelled at Mr McCormack, calling him a “f*cking filthy maggot” before throwing a cup of water at him which contained his own spittle.

Video showing the attacked, wearing a flueorescent yellow t-shirt and wearing a maroon cap. Bystanders saw the man spit repeatedly in his cup before launching it at McCormack pic.twitter.com/c606Lx2Flk

— Rhian Deutrom (@Rhi_lani) December 6, 2017

“That’s what happened to f*cking me,” the man yelled, as Mr McCormack walked down the street.

Channel Seven reporter Robert Ovadia questioned the man’s action, saying: “The judge said that he didn’t actually harm any kids.”

Another reporter countered that what the man had done “was a crime and you’ve done it in front of our cameras”.

The man turned around and ran across the road.

The man has just made a hasty retreat after he was confronted by the media for throwing a cup full of his own spit at Ben McCormack. pic.twitter.com/PdQoAvDJ37

— Rhian Deutrom (@Rhi_lani) December 6, 2017

Before the attack, Mr McCormack’s defence solicitor Sam Macedone told the media he had been satisfied with Judge Conlon’s decision to sentence him to a $1000 fine and a three year good behaviour bond.

“We’re very pleased with the result, I think the Judge was very comprehensive in his summary of the whole case and I think he was absolutely correct,” Mr Macedone said.

“I’m hoping now that Ben will have an opportunity to get on with his life and put it all together, it won’t be easy but let’s give him an opportunity, thank you”.

Mr Macedone returned to speak with the media following the attack on his client and expressed disappointment that Mr McCormack’s offences had been blown out of proportion due to intense media coverage.

“People like that (attacker) don’t really bother me, you find them everywhere,” he said.

“That’s his problem and he’s got his own problems...I feel sorry that Ben’s got to dry clean his suit but you expect that,

“He has accused Ben of doing something that he has not done but that’s how some people think”.

Mr Macedone said his client required space and time to rebuild his life now that the court case had come to a close.

“Thankfully he’s got a good band of supporters that will stay with him,” Mr Macedone said.

“I think if he’s given enough room he will probably survive but as to what he does and where he does it, I really don’t know,

“As I said to him it’s a step by step thing, don’t think too far ahead let’s use take things slowly but get you there”.

Earlier, the 43-year-old journalist appeared at the Downing Centre Court to hear his fate after he was charged with two counts of using a carriage service to transmit child pornography material earlier this year.

Dressed in a navy blue suit, Mr McCormack sat in the courtroom, surrounded by friends and family.

Judge Paul Conlon delivered his judgements over the course of one-hour, detailing Mr McCormack’s offences where he engaged in sexually explicit fantasy talk with an adult male from Western Australia, between April 2015 and February 2017.

Mr McCormack was found to have sent 10 images which were unable to be identified but were accompanied by descriptions of Mr McCormack’s “semen stained speedos and undies” along with various comments relating to fantasies he had involving young boys.

He was arrested on April 6 this year and charged with the offences later that afternoon at Redfern Police Station.

His defence lawyer, Sam Macedone, submitted psychiatric reports and testimonials detailing that Mr McCormack was usually highly intoxicated when he engaged in pedophillic imaginings.

The psychiatrist reports also highlighted the journalists’ attempts to confront his sexual issues through the help of mental health professionals for several years prior to his arrest.

Judge Conlon accepted that Mr McCormack had struggled with his pedophillic ideations, alcohol abuse and mental illness and had “demonstrated genuine contrition and remorse”.

“He has shown a willingness to accept personal responsibility. I am ultimately of the view that he does have positive prospects of rehabilitation as long as he continues on his present path receiving treatment from the mental health professionals,” Judge Conlon said.

Judge Conlon said Mr McCormack’s offending was on the lower end of the range of similar offences as “this case does not involve the pornographic depiction of actual child victims”.

“There has been no attempt to sexually exploit children and no grooming of any child to partake in child pornography,” Judge Conlon said.

“The fact that this offender’s communications were the product of fantasy and imaginings is just one of the many factors a court is entitled to consider in assessing the seriousness of the offending conduct”.

Judge Conlon made specific mention of the public persecution Mr McCormack had already suffered prior to his sentencing, acknowledging that “no offence raises the community ire and sensibilities more than offences, or perceived offences against children”.

“The offender was well known nationally as a reporter on the Channel 9 program, A Current Affair,” he said.

“It is clear that his job has been his life. He will never again be able to work in the media”.

He said the “extensive and explosive media coverage” of Mr McCormack’s case had caused him significant public humiliation and contributed to his mental fragility.

At one point this year the journalist was hospitalised after an attempt to end his life using a “garden hose, a car exhaust and cut wrists”.

“He will continue to struggle with his total loss of reputation and public ridicule,” Judge Conlon said.

At the conclusion of his sentencing, the judge expressed concern over Mr McCormack’s mental health and hopes for his future recovery.

“You obviously reached a very low point earlier this year from which you thought there were no prospects of any future,” Judge Conlon said.

“Hopefully those who have supported you throughout this period will manage to convince you otherwise”,

“You have never harmed anyone and accordingly I would not like to see you go forth and harm yourself”.