A former police officer wants to stay out of jail after chatting with two teenage girls on social media, grooming one and asking both for explicit material in exchange for cash.
Nicholas Filmer, 26, was a constable with the NSW Police Force when he “sexted” the two victims in late 2022 and early 2023, telling them he would pay them for sexual photos or videos.
He was arrested in June 2023 and pleaded guilty a year later to grooming a child, using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material to himself and using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material.
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A 15-year-old victim was groomed on social media by Filmer through compliments and payment of money, his court sentence hearing was told on Friday.
Crown prosecutor Danielle New told Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court the 26-year-old had shown “persistent intention and unwavering pursuit” of the victim.
He pressed her for nude images, saying she “owed him” because he had sent her $1450.
The teen was reluctant and tried to block the police officer, New said.
Filmer ultimately received two images of the girl, one in her bra and one showing her breasts, and a video of her genitalia.
He knew the victim was underage after being told so in November 2022, Judge Andrew Scotting was told.
New acknowledged the bravery of the young girl, saying her victim statement showed the pervasive impact crimes like this had.
“Young girls like her endure their own pressure and anxiety in having to report matters like these,” she said.
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Filmer also solicited explicit material from a 16-year-old girl who sent him nude images she downloaded from the internet in exchange for money.
While his mental condition, which included emotional immaturity, played a part in his offending, he was a police officer at the time and should have known better, New said.
Filmer’s barrister Margaret Cunneen SC argued this was far removed from the most serious cases where offenders were found with large volumes of depraved images and videos.
In his chats, he did not use vile language, never exposed himself and never asked to meet the teens for sex, she said.
There was also a low level of sophistication, the court was told, as the officer used his full name and transferred the funds from his police bank account.
The 26-year-old had reflected on his crimes, Cunneen said.
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“Words cannot begin to express the regret I feel about my actions and the sorrow I feel for the harm my actions have caused,” he wrote in a letter to the court
She urged the judge not to jail her client, saying he would be unable to continue his therapy behind bars where he faced additional dangers due to being an ex-cop convicted of child sex crimes.
NSW Police told AAP Filmer resigned from the force in December.
Scotting will deliver his decision on November 1.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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