A South Australian paedophile who advertised online to 'have some fun' with a mother and her 'very young' daughter has been caught red-handed by police.
Jonathon David Henke was busted by police officers in a hotel room with a stack of cash, condoms, flavoured lubricant, and a laptop connected to the hotel room's television that contained child exploitation material.
Police captured the bust on camera, with video stills clearly displaying Henke's shocked expression during his arrest.
The 46-year-old thought he had been communicating with a mum to tee up sex with her and her child, but had in fact been corresponding with police.
The offence occurred in October 2020 when he posted an ad online called 'Male looking for mother and very young daughter, Adelaide'.
Advert
He seemingly did not consider the woman who responded via text to be anyone but a 37-year-old mum of two girls, aged 5 and 8.
Henke pleaded guilty to making a communication with the intention of procuring a person under the age of 17 years to engage in or submit to sexual activity and aggravated possession of child exploitation material.
In the court's ruling, Judge Adam Kimber described how the 46-year-old was caught red-handed by police.
"On 23 October 2020, you went to the motel room to wait for the child and the mother," his honour said.
Advert
"Of course, there was no child and no mother. The police attended."
Judge Kimber added that Henke had in his possession 'the items the undercover officer had suggested' he purchase for the rendezvous, as well as $800 in cash to pay the mother and child for sexual acts.
His honour went on to point out that Henke attempted to lie to police, telling officers he had 'gone along with the communications with the intention of reporting to the police the person' he was speaking with.
Police then found his laptop containing child exploitative material in the hotel room.
Advert
In court, Henke argued that he was left devastated after his wife, a sex worker, had asked for divorce.
The divorce marked the end of his first-ever relationship with a woman. Henke also said he was drunk when he posted the ad online.
Despite Henke's explanation, the South Australian judge dismissed his excuse.
"You believed that you were contracting for a child to be sold for sex," his honour said.
"That short description of the conduct illustrates how heinous your conduct was. There was ample opportunity for you to bring the communications to an end."
Advert
In his ruling, Judge Kimber said he believed Henke was remorseful for his crimes but said the predator’s risk of reoffending was 'very real'.
Henke was sentenced to five years, eight months and 25 days in jail with a non-parole period of three years and six months.
Topics: Australia
Rachel Lang