A Bendigo registered sex offender who struck up conversations online with teenage girls and pushed them to send him explicit photos has admitted to 32 offences.
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Most of the charges against Garry Norman Mackay, 28, stem from offending that occurred between March and April 2018 against 19 victims.
Fourteen victims were under 16, five were 16 years old, and all but one lived overseas.
Over the course of his offending, Mackay had 12 victims send him a total of 93 images, which constituted child abuse material.
Mackay responded to the images with flattery and compliments.
During the course of his contact with the victims, he wrote in a sexual manner to them, describing sexual acts and referring to himself as "daddy" and them as "daughter".
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He also sent a number of the victims a photograph of a penis and told some he was 18 years old.
Mackay became angry at victims when they failed to reply or acquiesce to his demands, telling them they needed to prove their love or trust of him by sending explicit photographs.
He also threatened suicide when victims tried to end contact.
Mackay encouraged some to perform sexual acts.
He made reference to the illegality of his actions, telling one victim she could never disclose his age or what they talked about.
"If you tell anyone, I will either go to jail for life or get murdered," he wrote.
He also told one victim: "I love girls. Especially if they are underage".
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One of the charges relates to communication Mackay had with a 20-year-old woman who had purported to be younger and sent him child abuse material.
Mackay was placed on the sex offenders register for life in 2013, and his most recent offending was discovered during his annual interview after he allowed police officers to look at his phone.
Police found 225 child abuse images on the phone, in addition to those the victims sent him.
They also discovered he'd had contact with juveniles and had not told police of certain internet usernames, both of which he was required to report as a registered sex offender.
In his police interview for his offending, Mackay claimed the photos did not arouse him, but admitted he knew the girls with whom he was communicating were likely under 18.
Mackay pleaded guilty in the County Court to 12 counts of causing child abuse material to be sent to him using a carriage service, five counts of grooming a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, six counts of transmitting indecent communications to a child under 16 using a carriage service, six counts of soliciting child abuse material using a carriage service, one count of possessing child abuse material, and two counts of failing to comply with his sex offender reporting obligations.
In a written submission to the court, lawyer Peta Smith said Mackay had had a disadvantaged and dysfunctional upbringing.
Mackay was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and underwent surgeries as a young child.
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His complex medical needs meant his parents placed him in foster care at four years old, the court was told, and over the ensuing 10 years he suffered abuse.
Ms Smith submitted this background needed to be taken into account when assessing his moral culpability.
It was submitted that Mackay's offending was "fantasy" and there was no intention to meet the victims, nor was there a breach of trust.
Ms Smith wrote the matter resolved in a guilty plea at an early stage, which indicated Mackay's regret and acceptance of responsibility.
Mackay's prospects of rehabilitation depended on him, she submitted, but his young age and lack of violent offending "augur well for his reform".
It was put to the court that Mackay's physical disabilities would mean imprisonment would be harder on him than others.
Ms Smith submitted that while imprisonment was warranted, a long period of supervision and support in the community would be beneficial.
Mackay will be sentenced at a later date.
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