South Australian music teacher on bond for child porn

A childcare worker addicted to pornography for 20 years has been placed on a good behaviour bond for downloading child exploitation material.

Lee James, 44, worked at schools around South Australia, held various childcare positions, took part in Education Department forums and set up the Willunga Academy of Rock program, which has provided musical education to more than 4000 young people.

He pleaded guilty to one aggravated count of possessing child pornography, involving 41 images, between January 2012 and March this year.

Today in the District Court, Judge Paul Cuthbertson placed him on a three-year good behaviour bond with conditions, including that he has no Internet access for that period.

James's offending had led to the loss of his marriage and his job and destroyed his standing in the community.

For the past 20 years he had struggled with an addiction to pornography, which involved children for the last eight to 10 years, the judge said.

He noted James sought professional help after his arrest and had started the long process of rehabilitation.