Former Narrogin library officer avoids jail for possessing ‘graphic and perverse’ stories involving children

A 32-year-old man who pleaded guilty to possessing stories detailing “graphic and perverse” sexual activities with young children has avoided an immediate jail sentence. Phillip John McIlwaine appeared in the Albany District Court last Thursday awaiting his sentence for two offences in 2018 involving the possession of child exploitation material. The stories were found on a church computer after McIlwaine used the device to transfer them on to his phone. Police executed a search warrant in 2018 and found the illegal literature on his phone. Judge Ronald Birmingham said McIlwaine’s offending encouraged others to promote and distribute that type of material. “Now, there’s no evidence that it’s been redistributed but it’s the type of material that has a more insidious impact upon the community than those just viewing the images,” Mr Birmingham said. He described the material as “anime, insofar as they use cartoons to create images of children being seriously ab-used”. One of the stories involved a seven-year-old child. State prosecutor Jehna Winter said the case was in a “unique category because of the form of the material”. “The mere fact that people are prepared to possess this kind of material, albeit for their private purposes, necessarily does create a market for the corruption of children,” she said. Lawyer Elizabeth Hamilton said her client had attempted to seek counselling with a Narrogin psychologist after he was charged. He had also engaged in three counselling sessions with a Narrogin pastor, she said. Mr Birmingham said deterrence was required to protect children from sexual abuse. “It is literature that speaks of those acts in positive terms such as to, as I’ve said, normalise that type of behaviour and thereby put children at risk,” he said. “Clearly, however, the articles can’t be dismissed as being harmless fantasies.” McIlwaine was sentenced to 15 months in prison, conditionally suspended for 18 months. He will be required to attend counselling sessions.