Former Channel Nine reporter Ben McCormack has been abused and drenched with a cup of water as he left court, where he was ordered to pay $1000 and be on good behaviour for three years over sexually explicit conversations he had about children online.
As news cameras surrounded McCormack at the Downing Centre District Court following his sentencing on Wednesday, a man approached and shouted "you f---ing filthy maggot".
McCormack fled, breaking through the media pack and making his way to a waiting car.
The man followed, drenching McCormack with what appeared to be a cup of water. Journalists earlier saw the man spitting into the cup.
McCormack, 43, a self-confessed paedophile, carried out the conversations with another man on Skype over a period of almost two years from April 2015 to February 2017.
By day he appeared on A Current Affair, where he built a reputation for chasing down wrongdoers, including convicted child sex offender and Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes.
But at night, when he ventured online, he described himself as "a total b loving pedo" who couldn't wait to look at "boy porn".
In graphic conversations with another man, McCormack - who used the name "oz4skinboi" and claimed to be 28 - said he was sexually interested in children aged seven to 12.
He sent a 30-second video of himself performing a sex act in January 2016 as he described watching children at the beach, shopping centres and movie theatres.
The communications were intercepted by NSW Police, who had targeted the man to whom McCormack was speaking. They discovered McCormack's identity when the other man called him "Ben" and mentioned A Current Affair.
McCormack was arrested in April 2017 and has since resigned from Channel Nine.
The court heard his attraction to children was first "triggered" in 2005, when he met children while working on a story. From there, his paedophilic attraction became his "predominant, if not exclusive sexual focus".
He pleaded guilty in September to two counts of using a carriage service to transmit, publish or promote child pornography, charges that carry a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
Judge Paul Conlon said he was satisfied McCormack - who sought help from psychologists years before he was arrested - had demonstrated "genuine contrition and remorse" and had positive prospects for rehabilitation.
"No offence raises the community ire and sensibilities more than offences, or perceived offences, against children," Judge Conlon said.
"The offender was well known nationally as a journalist and reporter on the Channel Nine program A Current Affair. It is clear that his job has been his life. He will never again be able to work in the media.
"Owing to the extensive and explosive media coverage because of who he is, he has suffered and will continue to suffer public humiliation. Owing to his mental fragility, he will continue to struggle with his total loss of reputation and public ridicule."
Judge Conlon convicted McCormack of each offence.
"Without passing sentence, you are to be released on a recognisance self in the sum of $1000 to be of good behaviour for a period of three years and to appear before the court if called upon to do so at any time during that period," Judge Conlon said.
The court previously heard McCormack tried to take his life twice following his arrest.
"You obviously have reached a very low point earlier this year, from which you thought there was no future," Judge Conlon said.
"You have not harmed anyone. Accordingly I would not like to see you go forth and harm yourself."
??? Support is available for those who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636.
