Child porn man could avoid jail

A BALLARAT paedophile caught during an international investigation appears likely to avoid immediate imprisonment.
Ballarat Magistrates Court heard yesterday that Alistair Cato, who suffered from severe mental illness, may be further corrupted if exposed to convicted sex offenders.
Cato, 29, was arrested as a result of emailed exchanges with a covert police operative in the United States between October 11 and 27, 2005.
The court heard he was first detected after creating a number of posts on an internet news group site devoted to child sex and paedophile interests.
Cato gave his email address and was contacted by the operative posing as a willing correspondent.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steven Kent said Cato sent three messages back to the operative, the last containing 10 images of child pornography.
"The defendant said he sent the images to prove he was on the level and to gain credibility," Sen Const Kent said.
A police search of Cato's Redan home on November 7 uncovered 22 computer images of primary school girls engaged in sexual activity with adult men.
Sen Const Kent said examination of the internet browser revealed an extensive history of child pornography.
Defence counsel Helen Spowart said her client, who suffered paranoid schizophrenia and depression at the time, was remorseful, voluntarily seeking counselling and taking medication to reduce his testosterone levels.
In giving evidence, the defendant's mother Joan Cato said her son was "very much still a child".
Ms Cato said her son no longer had internet access and was banned from some internet cafes.
In hearing the case, Magistrate Bernard Coburn said while the community would not tolerate the defendant's offending, Cato was at risk of further corruption in the prison system. He adjourned the case to August 6 for a community
based order assessment, indicating Cato would also receive a suspended sentence.
Cato pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing child pornography and using an online information service to publish child pornography.