March 7, 2007 - 3:44PM
A former labourer was suffering a disease caused by toxic workplace fumes when he downloaded hundreds of images and movies of child exploitation to his computer, a court has heard.
Terrence Robert Cox, 38, of Deception Bay in Brisbane's northern bayside, on Wednesday pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court to possessing 292 child exploitation images and movies.
Judge Walter Tutt sentenced Cox to a suspended 12 months' jail term.
Police raided the married man's home following a tip-off on August 28, 2005, the court was told.
The prosecutor said the "very explicit" imagery found on his computer featured girls and boys aged five to 11 years, and showed children having sex with each other as well as with adults.
Cox's defence lawyers tendered a letter from his doctor which stated he'd suffered "toxic fumes disease" from working as a welder.
The letter suggested the disease may have impaired his judgment.
Cox has since established his own full-time IT business and is studying to become a Microsoft system engineer.
He told police that he knew the material was illegal, but he denied being a child molester.
The court heard Cox obtained the images and movies through a computer file-sharing system but he didn't distribute any materials.
Cox argued he had looked at the images only once.
His wife of five years was present in court.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Tutt said viewing such images was "a sign of a sick, perverted mind".
"Without the likes of you, there wouldn't be a market of such degradation of children," Judge Tutt said.
"You've contributed to its proliferation by your conduct."
He said his crime was worsened by the fact he was a married man "with the love and support of your wife".
"You hardly fit the profile of one who participates in this sickening behaviour."
Judge Tutt recorded a conviction against Cox and ordered the forfeiture of the material.
What a bunch of bull.
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