A MAN who tried to import a child-like sex doll was later found with a stash of more than 1300 abhorrent images and videos of child abuse material at a remote property in the Upper Hunter.
Paul Adams, a 51-year-old lawnmower mechanic, was arrested in May last year after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted a shipment from China containing a child-like sex doll, part of a "disturbing rise" in similar importations into NSW.
He was one of three men from the Hunter who quickly became the focus of an ABF crackdown into a disgusting trend that normalises child exploitation.
After the ABF picked up the importation, officers and NSW police raided Adams's house at Upper Dartbrook on May 14 and found 1200 images and 115 videos of child abuse material saved on five electronic devices.
They also found another child-like sex doll under Adams's bed and a single video depicting bestiality.
Adams was arrested and made full admissions to importing the doll and possessing the child abuse material.
He claimed to be relieved at being arrested, saying he hoped it would be a catalyst for change and lead to him getting help.
The 51-year-old later told a psychologist he had been mercilessly bullied at school due to a speech impediment and had become socially isolated.
He had few friends and no romantic relationships and lived with his parents until his mid-40s.
Adams "became reliant on adult pornography", but then began watching and storing child pornography and saw advertisements for child-like sex dolls, the court heard.
He had shown "limited insight" into why he had started possessing the material, but accepted responsibility for the impact on the victims and had shown remorse.
He still had the support of his family and employer and had good prospects of rehabilitation, Judge Tim Gartelmann said.
Adams was jailed for a maximum of two years and three months, with a non-parole period of 15 months.
With time served since his arrest, he will be eligible for parole in August, but will then have to remain on the child protection register for the next 15 years.
Meanwhile, two other Hunter men arrested as part of the ABF crackdown into the importation of child-like sex dolls have both pleaded guilty.
Trevor Richard Jones, 63, of Cooranbong, pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally importing prohibited goods and in January was placed on a 27-month community corrections order and told to perform 300 hours of community service.
He was placed on the child protection register for eight years.
Another man, 55-year-old Anthony Bakewell, of Whitebridge, pleaded guilty last month to possessing a child-like sex doll and possessing and producing child abuse material.
He remains on bail and will next appear in Newcastle District Court this week to get a sentence date.
"Dolls that normalise child exploitation are far from a victimless crime and they have no place in the Australian community," Inspector Mahony said.
"The ABF is resolute in its commitment to seize any and all forms of abhorrent child abuse material at the border and ensure those responsible are prosecuted."
