Former south-west ambulance chief pleads guilty to child pornography charges 

Zane Dawson appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty and was committed to stand trial in the Warrnambool County Court at the sitting starting on November 19.

He pleaded guilty to transmitting child pornography between December 14, 2010, and September 26 last year and causing child pornography to be transmitted to himself between similar dates. Mr Dawson also pleaded guilty to two weapons offences. 

Nine other charges were withdrawn by the Office of Public Prosecutions.

When offered the opportunity to enter pleas to the remaining four charges, Mr Dawson pleaded guilty.

His bail was extended until November 19, with a range of conditions.

Those conditions include that Mr Dawson report at the Lilydale police station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 6am and 9pm, he not leave Australia, surrender his passport, not apply for a new passport, not attend points of international departure, continue to see a psychologist, not use the internet, a chat room or Facebook and not loiter near schools, playgrounds or public swimming pools.

Magistrate Ian von Einem also lifted a full suppression order which had covered a number of previous mentions of the case in court. 

Mr Dawson’s address is still suppressed. 

The lifting of the suppression order was vigorously debated by an OPP solicitor and Mr Dawson’s defence counsel.

Mr von Einem said the case was now in a different situation, as previously the police investigations were ongoing and no guilty pleas had been entered.

Ambulance Victoria Barwon South West regional manager Mick Cameron confirmed yesterday that Mr Dawson was no longer working with the organisation.

“We can advise that Victoria Police has confirmed that the involvement of the former employee in those activities was not related to his role within the organisation,” Mr Cameron said.

“In the interests of the legal process under way, Ambulance Victoria has no further comment.”