Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
National
Fraser Barton

Man jailed over child exploitation material offences

A pedophile has been jailed after breaching his probation by filming children at a swimming spot. (Samantha Manchee/AAP PHOTOS)

A man with a "longstanding and deviant sexual interest in children" has been jailed.

Benjamin Caleb James, 32, was sentenced in Brisbane District Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a string of child exploitation material offences and a probation breach.

In December 2022 James filmed young children with his phone at Wynnum Esplanade, in Brisbane's east, the court heard.

James had the phone in his back pocket, turning his back to film children getting changed and showered before witnesses called police.

Police found 19 recordings on his phone that were taken on December 18 2022, all involving girls and boys aged less than or around five years old. 

Judge Vicki Loury said James had a significant and relevant criminal history including a four-year jail sentence in March 2021 for multiple indecently dealing with children offences.

That sentence was suspended after 556 days with 29 months' probation.

He breached the suspended sentence and probation order with the latest offences.

A lack of engagement with a psychologist during probation led to him being removed from a sexual offending rehabilitation program, the court heard.

In sentencing, Judge Loury said James had a longstanding and deviant interest in children that was untreated. 

"Your offending was brazen because it occurred in front of the caregivers of these children.

"You went to considerable effort to hide what you were doing which suggests that there was some planning involved.

"And your motivation was to satisfy your deviant sexual interests in children."

James - who has been in custody since December 2022 - was sentenced to three years in jail.

"Your prospects of rehabilitation seem to me to be at this time rather limited because you have not been motivated to seek treatment despite it being offered to you by the probation service," Judge Loury said.

James will be eligible for parole in December 2024. 

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.