Michael Dougan had 1000 child exploitation material files: Rockhampton District Court

A mine truck driver turned meth addict, sacked after falling asleep on the job and crashing into machinery, was also hiding a sinister secret until detectives came knocking on his caravan park lair.

A man has been caught with a disturbing catalogue of child abuse images.

A former mine truck driver, who lost his job after falling asleep at the wheel and crashing, has been busted with images and videos showing child sex abuse of the “worst” kind.

Self-confessed methamphetamine addict Michael Dougan, 47, had been living in a cabin at a Parkhurst caravan park when police raided his place on January 11, 2022.

Inside, they discovered 1000 files containing child exploitation material, Rockhampton District Court heard.

Crown prosecutor Luke Smoothy told the court police seized four devices and located 842 images and 189 videos.

He said about 25 per cent of the images and 85 per cent of the videos were in the worst category of CEM, as they involved the sexual penetration of children.

Judge Jeff Clarke described the content as “vile”.

“You told police that you used the material to masturbate to when you’re using methamphetamines,” he said.

Defence barrister Sheridan Shaw said her client became “lost for a number of years” after leaving school in Year 11 and using speed from age 18.

She said her client, who lost his mother in February, moved to Cairns where he worked as a labourer before driving trucks at the mines.

“He lost his employment in 2017/2018 when, after doing night shifts, there were some delays while he was driving the truck and one of the other machines broke down in front of him and he fell asleep,” Ms Shaw said.

“That’s when his life spiralled.

“His use of methamphetamine increased when his mother was diagnosed with cancer and he returned to Rockhampton to care for her.”

Dougan pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child exploitation material.

He was sentenced to 18 months in jail and will be eligible to apply for parole from September 29, 2023.

Originally published as Michael Dougan had 1000 child exploitation material files: Rockhampton District Court