Child sex offender Patrick Ramsay-Feeney allegedly reoffended within week of release from jail

Patrick Jim Ramsay-Feeney, 34, mumbled unintelligibly and sat with his arms folded during an unsuccessful bail application in the ACT Magistrates Court late on Friday.

The disability support pensioner was arrested at his home that morning and charged with using a carriage service to access child abuse material between January 25 and April 6.

Commonwealth prosecutor Zoe Hough told the court Ramsay-Feeney had only been released from jail on an intensive correction order five days before that period began.

He had been sentenced by Justice John Burns for accessing and possessing child abuse material, having been caught with more than 5000 objectionable files in November 2019.

Ms Hough said the conditions of the sentence had required Ramsay-Feeney to engage with ACT Corrective Services.

During an appointment on April 8, an officer at that organisation allegedly spotted "suspect images of children" on the 34-year-old's phone.

Police, who were quickly alerted, seized the device and arrested Ramsay-Feeney.

The 34-year-old was subsequently released amid an ongoing investigation, which culminated in him being taken back into custody and hauled before the court on Friday.

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Ms Hough said police had seized another phone from Ramsay-Feeney at his home during a search, allegedly finding he had used a web browser on it to search for child abuse material with terms like "best CP" and "pre-teen girls nude".

She said Ramsay-Feeney had told police "CP" meant "child porn", and that he claimed he looked at such material because of "mental pain".

Ms Hough argued the 34-year-old posed "an unacceptable risk" to the community.

"Mr Ramsay-Feeney is unable to stop himself from reoffending in this way," she said in opposing bail.

Legal Aid duty lawyer Tanja Cobden said, however, that appropriate conditions could be put in place, including a ban on Ramsay-Feeney having any electronic devices.

She also pointed out the man had not been charged with any offences committed after the latest police investigation began, and said he appeared to have been "in the community without the appropriate supports" before recently starting "beneficial treatment".

Magistrate Beth Campbell refused bail, saying it seemed Ramsay-Feeney had reoffended despite the terms of his Supreme Court sentence.

She also said she had "anxiety about whether he can control his impulses".

Ramsay-Feeney is due in court again on August 27.

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