AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2006
NSW: Lawyer engaged in "sick fantasy" on chat lines, court told
SYDNEY, Dec 4 AAP - A lawyer who discussed child sex, rape, incest and bestiality on
a phone chat line was engaging in "sick fantasy", his barrister told a Sydney court today.
Michael John Poynder, 51, of Potts Point, faced a sentencing hearing in the Downing
Centre District Court today, after pleading guilty to two offences.
The court was told that in May and June this year, he used a telephone chat service
in a bid to procure children - a boy and a girl, aged 15 - for sex.
But the `girl' he contacted was actually an undercover police woman, and Poynder was
arrested when he turned up to meet her at Redfern carrying condoms, lubricant and $230
in cash.
Poynder pleaded guilty to two counts of using a carriage service to procure a child
for sex, an offence which attracts up to 15 years imprisonment.
The sentencing judge will also take into account two other matters, in which Poynder
used the telephone service in an offensive manner.
According to a statement of facts tendered to the court, Poynder left a message on
the chat service saying he was "into taboo things, sex with children and animals, rape,
incest ... Get back to me if any of those interest you".
Judge Stephen Norrish asked: "Am I sentencing him as a fantasist or am I sentencing
him as a person who has been detected discussing real events?
"One of the disturbing aspects (is that) ... there may be elements of fantasy in these
conversations, but they may well be fabrications in order to give effect to his desires
in a realistic way."
Poynder's barrister, Ian Barker QC, said such discussions should be regarded as "no
more than fantasy".
"You should approach this on the basis that it is almost all fantasy - pretty sick
fantasy, but nonetheless fantasy," Mr Barker said.
The hearing continues.
AAP ka/dg/klw/jt/nf
KEYWORD: POYNDER
2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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