A former childcare worker who was found in possession of over 1500 files of child abuse material has faced court.
Michael John Tracey, 26, of Shepparton East, pleaded guilty in Shepparton County Court to accessing child abuse material using a carriage service and possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.
Prosecutor Matthew Challen told the court police searched Tracey’s Shepparton East home on March 10, 2023, after the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported him to the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team.
Police seized a total of 1542 files containing child abuse material stored on Tracey’s phone and external hard drive.
Of those, 668 images and 221 videos were evaluated as category one images, or the worst under the Interpol Baseline Scale, and 538 images and 70 videos were evaluated as category two.
The videos ranged from 11 seconds to two hours and 40 minutes, but the majority were under 10 minutes.
When interviewed, Tracey told police it felt like someone else was in control when he downloaded the material, and the urge to download it would “come and go”.
The court heard he would watch the material he downloaded to “relieve himself”, and he was the only person using his phone.
Tracey had paid for a membership to a website that allowed him to access more websites that contained child abuse material, which he would also have to pay to access, Mr Challen said.
He had spent between $1000 and $5000 on the sites, the court heard.
Tracey’s defence barrister, Matthew Weinman, acknowledged the offending was serious, and the most concerning factor was the paid membership, which supported people in continuing their operations and facilitated the harm of children.
However, he said his client had downloaded all the material for personal use, and there was no risk of anyone else seeing it.
Mr Weinman told the court Tracey had been diagnosed with a paedophilic disorder, which could be addressed over a long period of time.
He was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder during his childhood and had since been diagnosed with other psychological conditions, including depression and anxiety.
Tracey was assessed to be a moderate to high risk of reoffending, but Mr Weinman said that with his willingness to engage in treatment, the risk could be mitigated.
Tracey’s father provided evidence in court and said that although he was “gobsmacked” by his son’s behaviour, he was willing to help him in any way he could.
Judge Robyn Harper said it was “concerning” that Tracey was working in the childcare industry at the time of these offences.
Tracey will be sentenced in the Melbourne County Court in October.