CHILDREN’S book author Craig Silvey learned his fate on Monday, sentenced to two months behind bars for possession and five months for distribution of child exploitation material.
With his sentence backdated to October 22, he is eligible for parole.
The father of three appeared in Perth District Court, where a room full of journalists waited to hear for the first time the confronting details of the offending.
Judge Corman described simply the “repulsive” and “degrading” nature of videos and images depicting real children being abused.
These were words that should never belong in a sentence about children.
After several descriptions I learnt to take my pen off the paper.
These were not details I wanted to remember, let alone repeat. As a result, some of the more confronting details have been omitted.
Five videos and two images were found on Silvey’s laptop, and five images on his phone.
Two counts, one for possession holding the maximum penalty of seven years, the other distribution holding 10 years.
Prosecutor Daniel Harrop told the court Silvey had distributed a category one image, the most serious classification, that depicted an adult male and prepubescent child engaging in sexual activity.
The court heard Silvey was engaging in a fetish and pornography website where he messaged a fictitious user in January this year and asked them to move to an encrypted messaging platform.
“I love, love, love, love mums being intimate with little boys. I think it’s the sexiest and most beautiful thing in the world,” he wrote to the user.
“I want to make out with little ones,
“I haven’t had any experience, I’m sad to say.”
Silvey said in the chat he preferred boys aged “five plus” but eight is the “perfect age”, however he also liked “mums and toddlers”.
Silvey encouraged other users to share child exploitation material, saying he “had a great collection” but regretfully deleted everything.
When asked if he had children of his own, he denied being a father of three.
Following a raid on his Fremantle home in January, WA Police Child Abuse Squad found open active chat sessions where he discussed his sexual interest in children.
Silvey pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing and possessing child exploitation material at the first reasonable opportunity in May, giving him the maximum discount of 25 per cent.
He gained two further charges in March for possession and producing child exploitation material that were later discontinued.
Defence lawyer Eloise Barker said Silvey was committing “emotional suicide” through accessing “the most depraved material” to provide “temporary relief from psychological agitation”.
She argued he has a “sexual interest in child exploitation material” not children themselves, and an “an interest in finding fetish material that goes beyond what is appropriate”.
Ms Barker said Silvey “expressed desire to be in the position of the child” in his online conversations.
Silvey has engaged in 39 weekly psychological counselling sessions since his arrest, and 25 weeks of group treatment.
The treatment “has been of great value” to him and he “intends to continue,” Ms Barker said.
Citing a psychological report suggesting a low risk of reoffending, Ms Barker asked the judge to consider a suspended sentence rather immediate imprisonment.
The prosecutor argued imprisonment was necessary for deterrence, warning the conduct “encourages production” and perpetuates the “cycle of abuse”.
“It is important to remember these are not victimless crimes.
“When you view the chat log there shows a sexual interest in children and child exploitation material,” he said.
Mr Harrop said this was not an isolated act, Silvey “engaged with multiple other users requesting child exploitation material”.
Judge Corman says Silvey has “devastated” and “betrayed” an entire community that found “safety” in his books.
She acknowledged Silvey’s offending is on the “low end”, with more “excessive examples” seen before the court.
“I cannot sentence you on the basis you have no sexual interest in children,” she said.
Judge Corman accepted that Silvey’s risk of reoffending was low, noting she accepts he is “taking full responsibility for [his] actions”.
The best-selling author is known for his books Jasper Jones and Runt, both adapted for the big screen after their success.
Following his arrest, his books were permanently pulled from Australian public-school curricula and publishers Allen & Unwin and Fremantle Press ceased promotion.
Hours after his sentencing Silvey published a 9000-word essay on Substack titled My Apology, where he said he was “appalled” and “mortified” by his actions.
“As a child, I experienced emotional neglect, violence, and sexual abuse,” he wrote.
Much of it was dedicated to a “comprehensive explanation” on his behaviour, leaving little words to address the victims of his crimes.
If you or someone you know has been affected by child sexual abuse support is available: Respect National Helpline 1800 737 732, Bravehearts 1800 272 831, Sexual Assault Counselling Australia 1800 385 578.
If you or someone you know are concerned about sexual thoughts or behaviours towards children support is available: Stop It Now! Australia 1800 01 1800.
by CARLA LANE