A former deputy principal has had almost a year cut from his jail sentence after getting busted by undercover police while seeking sex from a purported underage girl.
Damian Wanstall had been sentenced to three years and seven months in July 2023 with a non-parole period of two years.
The now 50-year-old was sprung by police after posting an online classified advertisement under the heading: "Any legal Indian or Filo teens want fun."
The ad read: "40yo Aussie daddy seeking sexy play this weekend. Will reward. Can host discreetly Rouse Hill".
He was contacted by an undercover police officer pretending to be a 14-year-old girl, arranging what he thought was a meet-up for sex in the western Sydney suburb of Westmead.
Instead, he was arrested by police with $200 in his pocket and pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material.
On Monday in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, a panel of three judges quashed his initial sentence and unanimously imposed a shorter sentence of two years and and eight months.
His non-parole period was also shortened to 18 months and will expire on November 16.
The charge he was jailed for carries a maximum penalty of 15 years.
The NSW Department of Education said Wanstall had been dismissed immediately once convicted.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028