A former Rockhampton school teacher has avoided jail time after he pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing and distributing child exploitation material in the Rockhampton District Court.
Nathan Neil Ramm, 39, was sentenced to 18 months' prison, suspended immediately, and 18 months' probation, subject to conditions, and would be a registered sex offender for five years.
The court heard police found 781 of items of illegal child exploitation material on Ramm's computer during a search of his Rockhampton home in November 2019.
Crown Prosecutor Samantha O'Rourke told the court the material included videos of children as young as five.
"The videos did include penetrative acts committed by adults on children," she said.
Childhood incident contributed to offending: defence
Defence Lawyer Michael Copley told the court that Ramm was looking at child exploitation material, on and off, since he was 15.
"The circumstances of his childhood explain why he fell into the habit of looking at this matter," he said.
"Unfortunate events that occurred when he was aged about nine, with the neighbour next door, involving what was obviously some sort of homosexual activity.
"Then at the time he was 14 or 15 … he's looking at this material with boys of a similar age and it's simply gone on from there."
In sentencing, Judge Michael Burnett described the child exploitation items as vile and a "wholly disgusting" body of material.
"Often times people overlook that the victims of this sort of offending commonly are children from extremely disadvantaged circumstances," he said.
"The children depicted in these sorts of images are being exploited."
Judge Burnett took into account the incident from during Ramm's childhood which he said may have contributed to his offending.
'Obvious remorse displayed': Judge
He said Ramm had strong character references and was highly regarded and respected by his colleagues.
"You have been a productive member of our community for many, many years and have contributed, not just by going to work and paying taxes, but also by other activities by which you are not remunerated," he said.
"Those factors speak very highly in your favour.
"Also the fact you have already embarked upon your rehabilitation.
"Your obvious remorse is displayed by a number of factors … your early plea … and cooperation with police.
"Against you is that this involves the possession of this vile material and knowing of distribution of it."
Ramm was sentenced on count one to 18 months' prison, suspended immediately for three years.
Judge Burnett said if Ramm committed another crime in those three years his sentence could be activated.
He was sentenced on count two to 18 months' probation subject to conditions including psychiatric assessment and rehabilitation work.
Ramm will be a registered sex offender for five years.
