A Dubbo man jailed for stockpiling child porn and trying to swap it in a secretive internet chatroom told the undercover cop who busted him that he had "access" to a junior netball player who was "just beginning puberty".
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"Parents going thru [sic] divorce... I am shoulder to cry on," Gregory Maxwell Marginson falsely claimed to an undercover cop tasked with acting as a criminal in order to catch real offenders.
The conversation, in which Marginson lied about his age, coaching a netball team, having access to a girl and owning part of a dance school, took place in September 2017.
It led to Marginson's arrest in the December after police used technology to identify the 61-year-old as the person behind the "Alex17f-au" username engaged in the illegal chat.
A statement of facts presented to the District Court contained details of the conversation Marginson admitted he took part in.
He also expresses a future goal to work with vulnerable women and children.
- Dubbo Community Corrections Officer Linda Francis.
The conversation prompted police to conduct a search of Marginson's home which uncovered hundreds of child porn images stored on numerous devices in different rooms.
Two videos depicting child sex abuse were also found and Marginson was charged with child porn possession in March 2018.
READ MORE: Dubbo man's chilling child abuse confession
He pleaded guilty to child porn solicitation and possession charges late last year and was jailed for 15 months in Dubbo on Friday.
Marginson will be eligible for parole in April next year after spending 10 months behind bars.
Court documents authored by an officer working for Community Corrections - the state government organisation which manages offenders and provides advice to courts before sentences are handed down - revealed that after Marginson was arrested, he tried to volunteer at a Neighbourhood Centre.
"Mr Marginson attempted to work as a volunteer in a Neighbourhood Centre after the child porn charges were laid," Dubbo Community Corrections Linda Francis offer wrote in a report provided to the court.
"He also expresses a future goal to work with vulnerable women and children," the officer wrote.
Marginson was assessed as being a medium risk of reoffending, another community officer Diana Godess officer said.
There appears to be no evidence that he is likely to commit any form of sexual or physical violence in the future.
- Forensic psychologist Margaret Johnson
Before being busted by police Marginson was accused of engaging in "inappropriate behaviour" but he strongly denied the allegations, forensic psychologist Margaret Johnson said in a report she prepared for the court.
She said Marginson, who last resided at a unit complex in George Street in Dubbo, also attempted to end his life after police charged him.
"He stated that being kicked out of home by his partner and feeling so ashamed and humiliated all contributed to him feeling as though he had nothing to live for," she wrote.
"There appears to be no evidence that he is likely to commit any form of sexual or physical violence in the future," she concluded.
"He does not pose any imminent risk to others."
In court Judge Philip Ingram said imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence for Marginson.
Judge Ingram noted Marginson had not been behind bars before, his age and the fact he would be on parole for a longer period to consolidate his rehabilitation and reintegrate with society.
The court was satisfied Marginson was "most unlikely to commit any equivalent offences in the future", Judge Ingram said.
- If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty and needs support you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
