A Wollongong man who sexually groomed what he thought was an underage girl over the internet walked free from jail on Friday just hours after being sentenced.
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With his wife by his side and still dressed in a green prison tracksuit, Steven Flynn left Wollongong courthouse just before 4.30pm after Wollongong District Court judge Andrew Haesler found the eight months he had already spent in jail on remand was punishment enough.
He said Flynn had well-documented health problems, including significant heart problems, diabetes and a partially-amputated foot.
"He's clearly a person who is vulnerable because of his age and health," Judge Haesler said.
"If he hasn't learned the lesson that jail is supposed to teach by now, then he won't learn it with more time."
However, Flynn won't be left entirely to his own devices during his foray back into the community - the 53-year-old will be subject to a good behaviour bond for the next 12 months that includes supervision and guidance from Community Corrections staff.
A set of agreed facts tendered to the court said an adult officer from the NSW Police's child exploitation unit was posing as a 14-year-old girl when they struck up a conversation with Flynn in an internet chat room in June last year.
Flynn told the 'girl' he was 42, while she told him she was 14, prompting him to ask her for a photo so he could "check her out".
He quickly steered the conversation to sex, saying he wanted her "in his bed" to warm him up during to the cold weather.
He also said he wanted to kiss the girl and "suck your nipples".
Flynn also asked the girl about where she lived and her school holiday plans before suggesting they meet up and have sex.
"No one will know...." he said, promising to take her to the movies or a motel after she caught the train down the Wollongong to meet him.
The undercover officer ceased communicating with Flynn at the end of June. Police arrested Flynn on January 23.
During an interview with detectives, Flynn admitted he'd been talking to teenagers when he shouldn't have been, including the victim, who he knew was underage, but denied he had steered the conversations to sex.
He also denied being turned on by the chat, saying he wasn't attracted to children and only wanted to "scare" them.
However, Flynn did admit his guilt and told police maybe he was "sick in the head" and that he didn't know why he'd done it.
Flynn pleaded guilty using a carriage service to groom a child for sexual activity.
Flynn and the undercover officers had the following conversation:
Flynn: Would you fancy a bit?
Girl: Soz, I hope you don't think I'm asking dumb questions and think I'm a silly 14yr old girl.
Flynn: No that's okay. [I mean] sex.
Girl: OMG, would you really do that to me?"
Flynn: Yes, if you want to.
Girl: I've never done anything like that before. Like what would you want to do?
Flynn: Kiss you, suck your nipples, feel you up
Girl: I'd be heaps nervous though
Flynn: That's okay, could help you relax, massage your body.
Girl: I love massages.
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