A Corrimal pensioner has admitted downloading a fresh batch of child pornography to his mobile phone while awaiting an appeal against his jailing over a previous collection of illicit material.
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Paul McKenzie Ferguson was sentenced to four months' jail in Wollongong Local Court in August 2019 after pleading guilty to one count of possessing child abuse material, stemming from the discovery of thousands of images of child pornography on his phone in March that year.
The court heard at the time that Ferguson's perverted behaviour was uncovered by an employee at Wollongong JBHiFi who was helping him transfer his existing data to a new phone.
The woman reported the discovery to police who arrested Ferguson at is home later that afternoon.
They unearthed 240 images on Ferguson's phone that fell into the worst category for child abuse material, while another 2548 fell into the second highest category.
Ferguson lodged an appeal against the severity of the sentence and was released on bail in the interim.
However, Ferguson was re-arrested just days before the appeal was due to take place after police found more child pornography on his phone during an unannounced visit to his house.
Court documents said when police asked to see Ferguson's phone, he told them "I just need to sit down", however proceeded to keep standing and begin swiping furiously on the phone screen.
Officers said Ferguson appeared anxious, his breathing increased significantly and he began to sweat profusely as he then sat and continued "vigorously swiping" the phone's screen.
A detective ordered him to stop and seized the phone, prompting Ferguson to break down in open confession.
"Yes, I do use my phone to look at wrong things, porn...both boys and girls, kids," he said.
"So that is why you didn't want us to search your phone?" the detective asked.
"Yes, I didn't want you to know," he replied.
A subsequent download of Ferguson's phone by forensic police revealed 103 images featuring child abuse, many containing children under 10 years old either nude or in minimal clothing.
Ferguson was charged with two Commonwealth offences of using a carriage service to access child abuse material and possession of child abuse material obtained using a carriage service.
Both charges carry jail terms of up to 15 years.
Ferguson pleaded guilty to both charges in Wollongong Local Court last week.
He will remain behind bars ahead of his sentencing in Wollongong District Court later this month.
