Gladstone’s Michael John David Barb jailed for sick child image offences

A registered Qld sex offender tried to hide his depraved desires on an encrypted messaging platform. Now, he’s been caught and shamed. *DISTURBING*

Michael John David Barb was sentenced in the District Court at Gladstone.

A Central Queensland sex offender who traded sickening child videos and images with others online, has been jailed.

Michael John David Barb, 28, was sentenced in the District Court at Gladstone after pleading guilty to possessing child abuse material, and using a carriage service to access, transmit and deliver child abuse material.

Judge Jeff Clarke said the details of Barb’s offending were “quite confronting”.

The court heard Barb was a registered sex offender when in February and March of last year, he used social media to share child abuse material with other people.

Police executed a search warrant at Barb’s West Gladstone residence on April 5, 2023.

They seized his mobile phone and found that he had downloaded the Telegram application – a globally accessible, free and encrypted messaging service.

Police discovered Barb had engaged in “multiple chats” with other people to access child abuse material and he also transmitted it to others.

The court heard Barb had child abuse material on his mobile phone and also his laptop – 213 videos and 26 images.

It was told he sent 39 videos and 42 images to others.

The Crown said in some of the conversations Barb had with others on Telegram, he asked “how young you got?” and they responded “Zero plus”.

Barb told the others that he had “no younger than nine” and “I’m interested in seeing what you got.”

Barb also said: “What’s the youngest you got? I like them young and I want to get my young collection up. Anything really, as long as they’re skinny, tight and small.”

Michael John David Barb.

The court heard Barb also asked others if they wanted to trade child pornography.

“The material that (Barb) both received and transmitted is of a particularly serious kind,” the Crown prosecutor said.

The court heard graphic details about some of the things that were in the child abuse videos and images, involving children under the age of 10, and in one case an infant less than one year old – those details will not be published here.

Barrister Scott Moon tendered documents including a psychology report, mental health care plan, and employment references for Barb.

Mr Moon said Barb was born and raised in Gladstone, having completed both primary and secondary school there, and he had a “good childhood”.

The barrister said Barb’s parents were in court to support him.

“Both his mother and father are extremely supportive of (him), yet both embarrassed, ashamed and very much disappointed in his behaviour,” Mr Moon said.

He said during Year 12, Barb worked at a fast food store before moving to Rockhampton where he worked for a glass company.

Mr Moon said Barb’s most recent employment was with a car rental company and he had “no drug or alcohol issues.”

The barrister said after this offending was detected, Barb started seeing a psychologist and that was ongoing.

“In my submission, what’s important about (Barb’s) engagement is that he didn’t seek to minimise his behaviour to the psychologist,” Mr Moon said.

“That he was candid and open about it, and that he voluntarily went to … and participated in the therapy with the psychologist in order to assist him in moving forward.

“That report is somewhat telling with respect to that.

“The psychologist states that (Barb) is very aware of the seriousness of the present charges and now fully appreciates that unfortunately there is a pattern of recidivism from his previous conviction … he accepts full culpability for his offences and displays seemingly genuine remorse.”

Judge Clarke sentenced Barb to four-and-a-half years’ jail and fixed a non-parole period of two years.

Originally published as Gladstone’s Michael John David Barb jailed for sick child image offences