A Wagga man has been convicted of possessing child abuse material, however a second charge of buying a child-like sex doll online has been dismissed.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Andrew Ross Clark, 60, appeared in Wagga Local Court for sentencing on Monday after he had pleaded guilty to the possession of more than 50 pictures and 30 videos.
In January last year, the Mount Austin man was charged with both offences after the sex doll, destined for Clark's Wagga address, was intercepted in Sydney in November 2019.
During court proceedings on Monday, Magistrate Christopher Halburd ruled that the item ordered by Clark online was not of child-like appearance, however what was dispatched to him was.
IN OTHER NEWS:
But he was not convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Clark knew that he would receive a child-like sex doll.
When Australian Border Force officers attended Clark's home in Mount Austin in 2019, they found several files and folders on a desktop device.
A forensic examination uncovered 35 videos, 59 images, and 101 incomplete video and image files/links.
He was charged with one count of possessing child abuse material, which he pleaded guilty to in June last year and was sentenced for on Monday.
His barrister Michael King told the court that Clark had already suffered punishment by losing his job and being on the end of intense scrutiny from the media and the public.
He added that Clark suffered from depression, and were he to be sent to jail, he would not benefit from any programs to help sex offenders.
The police prosecutor argued that there was a need for general deterrence.
In handing down his sentence, Magistrate Halburd noted that Clark said as a very young child he "was exposed to the type of behaviour depicted in the child abuse material".
"He maintains he has no sexual interest in children," he said.
"He says he hates and detests paedophiles."
Magistrate Halburd said Clark had no criminal record when he was charged with the offences and has needed to rely on welfare payments.
"Noting the number of images is certainly not at the upper end, it seems to me to be a matter that certainly falls below the mid-range," he said.
"There has been a very significant reduction in alcohol use, engagement with medical professionals, [and] no further offending."
Clark was sentenced to a three-year community correction order.
He will also need to complete 200 hours of community service and abstain from drugs and alcohol for 12 months.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters