TWO Nhill men have pleaded guilty to possessing hundreds of child abuse images and videos.
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Troy Jackson, 41, and Hayden Jackson, 23 appeared at Horsham Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
They are uncle and nephew respectively.
The court heard that on June 5, 2018 police identified the presence of "high-end" child abuse material online and traced it to an IP address in the region.
On July 2, police executed a search warrant at Troy and Hayden Jackson's shared address in Nhill.
A number of electronic items were seized from Troy and Hayden Jackson's respective bedrooms, including computers, phones, USB sticks, hard drives and tablets.
Police found 62 caches of animated images depicting children in sexual positions from Hayden Jackson's electronic items.
Police found the following on Troy Jackson's electronic items:
- 325 category one images depicting child nudity or erotic posing, with no sexual activity, involving children aged eight to 10 years-old;
- 32 category two images depicting sexual activity between children, or solo masturbation by a child;
- Nine category two videos depicting sexual activity between children, or solo masturbation by a child, involving children aged four to five years-old;
- 52 category two images depicting non-penetrative sexual activity between adults and children involving children aged 18 months to 10 years-old;
- 49 category four images depicting penetrative sexual activity between adult men and children aged 18 months to 10 years-old;
- 74 category four videos depicting penetrative sexual activity between adult men and children aged between 18 months and 10 years-old;
- 11 category five images depicting bestiality involving a child aged between five and eight years-old;
- 230 category six animated or virtual images depicting children engaged in sexual poses or activity aged four to 15 years-old;
- Five category six videos animated or virtual videos depicting children engaged in sexual poses or activity aged four to 15 years-old;
- 118 category seven images, depicting non-illegal child material but believed to form part of a series containing child exploitation material, involving children to 15 years-old; and
- 18,411 images and video depicting adults engaged in sexual activity.
Police arrested Troy and Hayden Jackson on November 5. Both gave no comment interviews.
The court heard neither man had prior convictions.
Troy and Hayden Jackson's defence lawyer Nick Graham said the material was downloaded from the internet and was attained over a long period of time.
"There was no corroboration with anyone to attain these images nor is there any evidence that my clients have distributed the material," he said.
"Troy has no social interaction with other people and is on medication for Asperger syndrome. He only leaves Nhill to go to doctor appointments. Both Troy and Hayden have difficulty in understanding situations and communicating.
"There is a clear distinction between someone who manufactures this imagery and this. It's a disgusting habit, but doesn't present any danger to the victims of the imagery. Maybe it's a fetish, I don't know."
Hayden Jackson told the court that he was "scared of going to jail". Troy Jackson said he was also "scared of going to jail (because) there are real predators in there".
Magistrate Franz Holzer said men their age should know this behaviour was illegal.
"In this court's eyes, it is disgusting. If they haven't got the message today, they never will," he said.
Mr Hozler said Troy Jackson's offences were more severe than Hayden Jackson's offences. He said both of them would be a target in jail if he sentenced them to terms of imprisonment.
Mr Hozler said Troy and Hayden Jackson would be put on the sex offenders' registry for eight years each.
Hayden Jackson received a community corrections order for 12 months and will complete 150 hours of community service.
Troy Jackson was sentenced to two months in jail.
All electronic items and material seized will be destroyed.
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