Child groomer pleads guilty but says it was all a joke

A baby groomer arrested after a visit to Vietnam has pleaded responsible regardless of sustaining his sexual requests have been a “joke” that he had no intention of fulfilling.

He pleaded responsible to a single cost of grooming an individual to make it simpler to interact in sexual exercise with a toddler exterior Australia.

Winter was arrested final yr following an investigation by Australian Border Force when he arrived at Melbourne International Airport from Vietnam.

His baggage and digital gadgets have been examined, with ABF officers finding messages between the person and a facilitator exterior Australia, about hiring younger kids for sexual exercise.

His dwelling was additionally searched.

Prosecutor Christina Hill instructed the court docket, in subsequent police interviews, Winter agreed he had despatched messages to a girl referred to as ‘Eva’, who he had met on Cupid Vietnam, discussing intercourse with kids below the age of 18.

But he was “just joking” and “was just seeing how far it would go”.

In one alternate, he tried to acquire intercourse with a 12-year-old.

Judge Andrew Tinney raised considerations {that a} psychologist report ready for the court docket clearly said that Winter denied he had completed something flawed as lately as April 2023, regardless of his responsible plea.

The report, ready by Jeffrey Cummins, said that Winter had maintained his innocence, however as a result of authorized recommendation {that a} trial could be expensive had pleaded responsible.

“Based on that, there is no contrition in his plea,” Tinney mentioned.

Winter’s lawyer Dermot Connors conceded that Winter did not initially have a correct appreciation as to the seriousness of his offences.

“But there has been growing awareness,” Connors instructed the court docket.

The most penalty for the offence is 15 years’ imprisonment.

Connors argued his consumer mustn’t obtain a custodial sentence, based mostly on distinctive circumstances together with Winter’s age and his uncommon upbringing in addition to his early responsible plea.

The listening to will proceed on Tuesday afternoon.