A MAN found with some of the worst forms of child pornography will be psychiatrically assessed before being sentenced.
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Michael Elliott Sancil, 28, of Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool County Court yesterday to possessing cannabis and two counts of accessing child pornography.
Defence counsel Michael Turner requested a psychiatric assessment be ordered by the court to assess Sancil’s sexual deviation, his mental health and issues with cannabis use.
He said Sancil did not recognise he had a drug problem, believed he was self-medicating and that cannabis use kept him stable despite his severe depression and anxiety.
The barrister said his client had been assessed as having an IQ just below 70, in the disabled range.
A psychologist raised concerns in a report that Sancil was at a crisis stage, particularly in relation to issues of self-harm and threats against police and the judiciary.
Sancil also claims to be the victim of sexual abuse, but he knew he was doing wrong by accessing child pornography.
Police executed a search warrant at Sancil’s home on May 3, 2012, and seized two computers.
They also found a small quantity of cannabis.
An analysis of the computers uncovered 334 images of child pornography.
The first group of images was accessed between February 7 and March 8, 2009, and the second collection between March 25, 2011, and May 2, 2012.
The images have been categorised on a scale of one to five from clothed images through to the most serious child pornography involving sadism and bestiality.
There were 80 category one images, 89 category two, 90 category three, 76 in category four and three in the worst bracket.
Sancil told police he became aroused when he saw children on the street and that would trigger his internet access of pornography, including child pornography.
He has previous court appearances for making threats, assault, an indecent assault on a child aged under 16 years and for possessing and producing child pornography.
A 2007 court appearance for committing an indecent act with a child aged under 16 years involved Sancil following an eight-year-old boy into a toilet block and confronting the boy in a sexual manner.
Mr Turner said his client had worked in gardening services, waste management and then at a car cleaning business but he became involved in the drug culture and has been a regular cannabis user.
Sancil now has an appointment with a psychiatrist on November 24 with a report expected to be prepared before the end of the year.
He was released on bail and the case was adjourned for further hearing in the Melbourne County Court on January 20.
