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An American exchange student at James Cook University, who admitted he had a history of internet paedophilia in the United States crimes when he ap[plied for an AUstralian student visa, committed similiar crimes here in Tonwsville in February this year, a Townsville District Court was told yesterday. The court heard that William Beynon, 28, had openly informed the Federal Government of Immigration that he was a convicted and registered sex offender in Chicago, where he had been put on 18 months probation for three charges of using the internet to solicit child sex. But counsel yesterday said Immigration Minister Senator Amanda Vanstone advised Beynon in August last year that his visa was granted, after the delegate in Washington who examined his application did not find any grounds to refuse it. William Beynon, 28, this morning is being deported to the United States, after being sentenced to a suspended jail term in the Townsville District Court late yesterday. With a posse of our immigration officials hovering outside the courtroom doors, the bespectacled, bearded and dishevelled Beynon pleaded guilty to a total of nine charges. He faced five counts of using the internet to procure girls under the age of 16 for sex, two charges of exposing a child to indecent images, possessing an abusive computer image and possessing tainted property. Crown prosecutor Anthony Dillon said between February and March this year, Beynon went into computer chat rooms and made explicit and crude sexual overtures to a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. On more than one occassion, he suggested the 'child' perform anal sex on herself, and sent pictures of his own genitalia to at least two of those he had contacted. At one stage, he asked one if she could supply the names of her fellow students at a Townsville school, so he could discuss sex with them, too. The problem for Beynon was that the 'girls' he was contacting were in fact undercover police officers. Shortly after the last contact in mid-march this year, police searched Beynon's Charles St residence and found tell-tale images sent by the undercover officers. He was detained, charged and remanded in custody until yesterday's sentencing. Mr Dillon said the offfending was disturbingly similiar to that committed in the United States, where he had also been arrested in an undercover sting operation. Stuart Durward, SC for Beynon, said the prisoner had openly confessed his history when making his visa application, and the Immigration Department knew of his American criminal history. "He is registered as a sex offender in the United States until the year 2011," Mr Durward siad. He tendered a local psychologist's report, which expressed concerns aobut reoffending. Mr Durward asked Judge Brian Hoath to consider the 7 1/2 months Beynon had already spent in custody as time seved, and asked that any extra time be suspended. "I believe the appropriate course is to allow him to be deported (immediately) in the interests of both justice and of our community," Mr Durward said, adding that he would have a greater rehabilitation support network in his home country. Judge Hoath agreed with the submission. He sentenced Beynon to two years' jail on each of the procuring charges, 12 months for possessing child abuse images and three months for possessing tainted property, the terms to be served concurrently. He then suspeneded the sentences for four years after 7 1/2months, and declared that amount of pre-sentence custody already served. Beynon walked from the courtroom to join the waiting Immigration Department Officers, who had intended to fly out with him last night. However, the Bulletin understands the proceedings went on too long for them to catch their flight, and Beynon spent one final night in Townsville detention in the watchhouse. He will be flown out today, and will be 'forthwith' deported. The Bulletin was unable to contact Immigation Minister Amanda Vanstone's office for comment last night. |
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