2026-09-07 · Just In
🔮 Houghton's defence counsel denied he had a sexual interest in children, telling the court the 59-year-old was sexually abused as a child, and using the chatroom to meet paedophiles so he could confront them in person.
Jail term avoided
Prosecutor Asha Healy pushed for an immediate term of imprisonment, telling the court Houghton's offending represented a pattern and that he "continues to be a risk to the community".
But Judge Flynn said Houghton had no prior convictions of this manner and had shown sufficient remorse. assertive