A former Canberra teacher who viewed and downloaded child abuse material has received a suspended jail term in the ACT Supreme Court.
51 year old Shinobu Kanazawa from Banks pleaded guilty to three offences including transmission of child pornography, possession of child pornography and offensive use of a carriage service.
The offences can attract maximum jail terms of 15 years, seven years and three years respectively.
The charges relate to his viewing, downloading and uploading of more than 200 images exploiting children between 2011 and 2012, but many of the photos were classified as less serious in nature.
Kanazawa formerly worked as a teacher in Canberra, but was no longer in that role at the time of the offences.
He has also worked with cultural exchange programs between Japan and Australia including Canberra's sister city relationship with Nara.
Kanazawa was arrested at Sydney Airport in September 2012 as he and his wife were leaving for a two week holiday in Japan.
But the court heard there is no suggestion he intended to flee from authorities or that he knew police had searched his home earlier that day and found evidence of his offences.
The court heard Kanazawa first came across child pornography through pop-up messages on legitimate sports websites then began regularly viewing the material.
The Crown pointed out that Kanazawa had been viewing child pornography since 2006.
Kanazawa gave evidence to the court that he had not known how to deal with stress at the time he committed the offences, he regrets his behaviour and will not reoffend.
He said child exploitation material is horrible and immoral and that he feels sorry for the victims.
The defence told the court Kanazawa was labouring under a chronic depressive illness at the time of the offences, that he has since sought counselling and developed coping strategies.
During sentencing, ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice Helen Murrell noted Kanazawa's early admission of guilt and that the number of images involved was relatively low but hardly trivial.
She accepted Kanazawa is at low risk of reoffending, but said being highly stressed is no excuse for allowing one's moral compass to waver.
Kanazawa received good behaviour bonds and several sentences adding up to a suspended jail term of two years and one month.
He has also been ordered to continue counselling as part of his good behaviour orders.
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