Good behaviour bond for child porn cop

A NSW policeman who pleaded guilty to possessing DVDs and photographs of naked children has been given a two-year good behaviour bond.

Brooke Allan Smith, 47, will have no conviction recorded after pleading guilty in November to downloading and possessing child abuse material.

In handing down his decision on Monday, Magistrate Mark Buscombe noted the five photos and two DVDs were "low level" child abuse material.

The DVDs showed boys aged between 10 and 17 frolicking at a nudist colony.

"All child abuse is abhorrent," Mr Buscombe said.

"The material falls at the bottom of what's called the child exploitation tracking scale.

"Most of the males in the videos are over the age of 16, although there are two who appear to be between 10 and 14 years of age."

Smith has been suspended with pay.

The DVDs carried a disclaimer that the material within them was legal in Canada, where they were ordered from.

The Australian Federal Police were tipped off to Mr Smith's online purchase by their Canadian colleagues who found his name and address among the supplier's records.

The court heard Mr Smith had numerous commendations as a police officer and was suffering post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his 27 years on the job.

He had previously told the court he did not dispose of the material for fear someone would find it.

Earlier, Mr Buscombe refused a bid to handle the matter under the mental health act.

Mr Smith sat quietly in Downing Centre District Court throughout the hearing.