Port Hedland man Thomas Charles Pudney jailed for use of ‘disturbing’ child pornography to ‘self medicate’

A “born and bred” Hedland local who accessed “disturbing” child exploitation material to “self medicate” for two years has been jailed for 14 months. Thomas Charles Pudney, 36, appeared in South Hedland District Court on Monday charged with possessing child exploitation material and using a mobile phone to access child pornography. In the same hearing, a previous charge of distributing illicit material was discontinued by State Prosecutor Gary Huggins. He previously pleaded guilty to three charges on January 27. Pudney was arrested on April 7 last year after an investigation by the South Hedland police detectives office. Police took into their possession a Huawei mobile phone where they extracted 25 images and video of child exploitation material ranging in severity. Of that amount, police discovered nine category one images, two category three image, 13 category four videos and one category five image. Category five content can include depictions of sadism, bestiality and child abuse. He was also found commenting on content via an online platform under the alias tommy1085. In one post he commented the word “threesome” under an image of three under-age children. After his arrest, Pudney told police he viewed the material to “self medicate” and “self regulate so I don’t harm anybody” and that “some stuff happened to me as a kid”. In closing statements, defence lawyer Matthew Blackburn said Pudney viewed the material to “self regulate” and, though he accepted the severity of the crime, use of the material was “sporadic”. He said media reports of the incident had contributed to the declining mental health of Pudney, who attracted abuse from the local community. While on bail, Pudney was involved in counselling which Mr Blackburn said had started to address underlying psychological issues. But psychological reports presented to the Judge revealed the court could not determine if there was a causal link between the offender’s sexual assault and the crime. Mr Blackburn said he accepted there could not be a causal link but recommended a custodial sentence so Pudney could continue treatment. State Prosecutor Gary Huggins said the Commonwealth would not tolerate child sexual abuse and suggested an immediate term of imprisonment. Judge David MacLean said though he accepted Pudney’s childhood circumstances and rehabilitation efforts, he had to put community safety first. “Your conduct represented the abuse of children (and) your conduct produces the abuse because without an audience there is no need to produce this type of material,” he said. “It caused the deliberate humiliation and degradation of children for entertainment...it promotes material by which the further corruption and degradation of children is guaranteed. “The community rightly accepts children will be nurtured and protected”. He was sentenced to an immediate term of imprisonment of 14 months and is eligible for parole.