Former ACA reporter Ben McCormack spared jail over child pornography

A cup of water containing spit has been thrown at Ben McCormack as the former A Current Affair reporter left court today.

This morning McCormack was spared jail and given a $1000 three-year good behaviour bond over child pornography offences. 

The disgraced television reporter, 43, was targeted outside Sydney's Downing Centre District Court as he stopped to speak to the waiting media.

After McCormack had spoken to reporters outside the court, a man who had been standing nearby approached and threw the polystyrene cup of spit at him while yelling "hey you f------ f----t".

McCormack then dashed to his car and was driven away.

Explaining the leniency of his sentence, Judge Paul Conlon remarked that it was an unusual child pornography case.

“There were no videos, photos or images of pornography and there were no actual child victims," he said. 

https://twitter.com/MarkWBurrows/status/938187694290505728

“Well before he was ever charged, he acknowledged the wrongness and inappropriateness of his fantasy and conduct and he sought professional help," Judge Conlon said. 

“All of the episodes of communication with others around this topic occurred when he was heavily intoxicated with alcohol. He said he was fighting demons since 11 years of age. 

“He said he had spent many hours fantasying about returning to his childhood and had a fantasy love affair with his best friend during his 20s which lasted for 10 years.   

“He has explained that in 2005, he had met two children aged approximately nine and 11 years while doing a story about their father."

Judge Conlon said McCormack had told his psychologist the meeting had triggered his awareness of his sexual attraction to preadolescent children.

“11-year-olds are probably my ideal age,” McCormack told the psychologist.

McCormack was suspended from his role as a journalist at Channel Nine in April following raids at his home and the television network’s Willoughby offices after his arrest.

He later handed in his resignation to the network.

McCormack was charged with two counts of using a carriage service to transmit, publish or promote child pornography.

In September, he pleaded guilty to the offences.

According to the agreed statement of facts, McCormack went by the name Oz4skinboi in conversations with young boys aged between seven to 12 years old.

He spoke with an unnamed man for more than two years in text and Skype conversations amounting to child pornography.

The pair watched pornography together and exchanged a number of images, which have not been made available.

The man asked McCormack during one July 2015 conversation if he thought he'd always "be a p", and the reporter said "Yep, U ... I'll always have the attraction ... They are beautiful".

In January this year, McCormack told the man he liked naughty boys and the man asked, "U eva think u'll play with one? Or just fantasy?".

"I'd love to," he replied.

Last month, Judge Conlon questioned whether McCormack's offence "must be viewed down towards the lowest end of the scale" of child pornography crimes because he had sought medical treatment years before the charges were laid and never acted on his "fantasy".

The court heard the online conversations took place when McCormack was drunk and needed to satisfy his urges.

He acknowledged McCormack had sought professional assistance for his paedophile urges since 2008, and that he was afflicted by self-loathing.

Judge Conlon said McCormack's reputation had been destroyed and that the public humiliation of the case had led him to try to kill himself on two occasions.

The charges each carried a maximum sentence of seven-and-a-half years. 

EXCERPTS FROM BEN McCORMACK'S ONLINE CONVERSATIONS

May 19, 2015

Love boys so much

Talking ped the whole time watching hot b porn

July 30, 2015

I’ll always have the attraction. They are beautiful.

August 1, 2015

they are sooooooo beautiful

I want to make love to one so badly

August 18, 2016

They're amazing in speedos ... Small speedos so small, I love them so much

January 1, 2017

McCormack: but I do like naughty boys

Second man: u ever think u’ll play with one? Or Just fantasy?

McCormack: I’d love to

I’m a total b loving pedo

I wanna get pedo with you