Man takes toilet photos

Dozens of child abuse images found on phone

A SOUTHERN Downs man who took photos of a girl under a door in a public toilet and was busted with child abuse material the same day has walked from court.

A 10-year-old girl and her mother entered the women’s bathroom at Stanthorpe Plaza on July 2, 2020, unaware Kayden James Cockerell (pictured) was hiding in the cubicle beside the girl.

Warwick District Court heard the now 28-year-old slid his phone underneath the door and took photos of the girl, who ran outside and waited with her mother until they could notify the manager of a nearby store.

A group of people followed Cockerell out of the shopping centre while they waited for police, and the Stanthorpe man ended up locking himself in another public toilet where he was eventually caught and arrested. He suggested to officers that he was the victim and was followed by strangers for no reason, and was later transferred to Stanthorpe Hospital after telling police he had paranoid schizophrenia.

Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso said police found “a blurry image consistent with being of someone’s skin” on Cockerell’s phone, with a search of his phone later revealing he’d searched the internet for ‘young nudism’ that day.

The court was told Cockerell had 16 internet tabs open showing nude pictures and animated images of girls as young as six.

Cockerell pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count each of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, breaching privacy, and of possessing an item used in a supply.

He was sentenced to 15 months in jail with immediate release on a three-year good behaviour bond.

Cockerell was also placed on probation for three years.