Dina Rosendorff From: Herald Sun March 28, 2008 12:00AM
CHILD pornography novels can be freely bought in Australia, and carry no warning about their illicit content - or the danger faced by people who buy them.
Several of the books were found at the home of Carl Laurence Adams, 30, of Box Hill, one of seven Victorians nabbed in a global child porn sting.
Adams was charged with three child pornography offences, including possession, and appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday.
Adams' defence counsel, Greg Thomas, told the court several books in his client's possession were freely available.
The court heard other books found at his home could be classified as "art".
The Australian Federal Police believes books by controversial US author Peter Sotos -- available via leading Australian bookshops -- could be considered prohibited material under the Crimes Act child pornography division.
Sotos writes in graphic and lewd detail of incest, child rape and violence against children, often in first person from the perspective of sadistic sexual criminals. His books don't contain graphic images.
Sotos' books can be bought at booksellers including Amazon, Angus & Robertson and Borders.
Commonwealth police prosecutor Krista Breckweg said Sotos' books -- which carried no classification, disclaimer or warning -- fell under the definition of child pornography.
Under the Act, child porn means a film, photograph, publication or computer game that describes or depicts a person who is, or appears to be, a minor engaging in sexual activity or depicted in an indecent sexual manner or context.
Criminal barrister Ian Crisp said the case could open other Australian owners of Sotos' novels -- and similar books -- to police prosecution.
Adams, on bail, was arrested in the AFP's online Operation Irenic. He'll reappear in the court in May.