Man spared prison for child porn

A REDBANK Plains man caught in possession of more than 3800 child porn images was yesterday spared actual time in jail because he suffered depression and a personality disorder.

Ipswich District Court heard Graham Costin, 36, was charged with possession of child exploitation material after police raided his home in June last year.

Prosecutor Clayton Wallis said police found images saved on compact discs, printed on paper and stored on a computer hard drive that depicted young children involved in sex acts with adults and sexualised poses.

Mr Wallis said Costin co-operated with police but did not immediately acknowledge the criminality of his behaviour.

“The defendant said he was curious and that he had feelings for children but did not know why,” Mr Wallis told the court yesterday.

“He said he did not really believe that what he was doing was wrong.”

Defence barrister Geoff Seaholme said his client now realised he had a serious problem.

“This was purely for his own (sexual) gratification and there is no suggestion he tried to distribute (any of the material),” Mr Seaholme said.

The court was told that a psychiatric report painted a sad picture of Costin's socially isolated life.

In sentencing, Judge Deborah Richards said those who accessed child porn created a market and therefore contributed to the abuse of defenceless children.

However, Judge Richards said she took Costin's personal circumstances into account.

Costin was sentenced to three months jail but released on immediate parole for three years.