PlayStation lands man in hot water

A 45-year-old man who was banned from using devices that can access the internet following a conviction for child pornography has been found guilty of violating that order after police found a gaming system in his house.

Brett Dargie was convicted of child pornography offences in March 2016 and prohibited from having any devices in his possession capable of accessing the internet.

On July 28, court heard, Niagara Regional Police were called to his residence on an unrelated matter and it was determined the man had a PlayStation gaming system, which was connected to the internet.

“At the root of every child pornography image is a child,” Judge Fergus O’Donnell told the defendant at his sentencing hearing in an Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Thursday.

“Every person who views that image or shares that image contributes to the (child pornography) market.”

They also share “culpability” in the re-victimization of the child.

“For your sake, and for the sake of children, you need to say this ends with me,” the judge said.

Dargie had been in custody since his arrest, the equivalent serving a six-month term in pretrial custody.

He was released from custody Thursday and placed on probation for two years and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.

“Idle hands are the devil’s playground, as the saying goes,” the judge said.

“Due to the nature of your charges, your options are going to be somewhat narrow. It might take you longer to find a (community service) placement.”