Wayne Leslie Hartas on Monday in Brisbane District Court pleaded guilty to 10 offences including administering a child exploitation website and grooming a 15-year-old boy.
The 49-year-old had been on bail after being charged in September 2023 and spending six months in custody.
Defence barrister Thomas Zwoerner argued Hartas should not be returned to custody as he had taken steps to rebuild his life and had shown "palpable remorse".
"He has attended counselling of his own volition," Mr Zwoerner said.
"The community is best served by his rehabilitation."
The option of giving Hartas a suspended sentence or probation was rejected by Judge Tracy Fantin as unsuitable for the "extremely serious" nature of his offending.
Judge Fantin said it was "particularly concerning" that Hartas had filmed two boys, aged 10 and seven, while they used toilets at a Brisbane shopping centre.
"It's every parent's nightmare while allowing their child to use toilets in a public place," she said.
Hartas admitted being part of an encrypted group chat called "Aussie mates" along with about 90 other people.
Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso said Hartas had been a member of the group for months before becoming its administrator between March and July 2023.
"He posted welcome messages to new members, advised on what images they wanted to see posted and reminded members of the rules," Ms Kelso said.
"He told members not to post details of the group elsewhere."
Hartas must have posted this warning to preserve the security and anonymity of the group and avoid detection by law enforcement, Judge Fantin heard.
Police found 1700 images and 68 videos of child exploitation hidden on Hartas' mobile phone including material in the most serious category of abuse.
Hartas also pleaded guilty to distributing child exploitation material on his group chat and social media.
"The agony and trauma of the children inflicted in videos went on to feed a deplorable market," Judge Fantin said.
Hartas also shared images of boys he had taken in toilets and shops after he had added highly sexualised captions.
It was an "affront to the principles" of deterrence and community protection to allow Hartas to serve the rest of his sentence outside custody, Judge Fantin said.
"I must take into account the harm to each child depicted in the exploitation material as well as boys you secretly photographed while they were innocently using toilets," Judge Fantin said.
Hartas was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years. He can apply for parole after two years.
7°C