Children's photographer and 'master manipulator' convinced families he was safe to leave their kids with - before raping and molesting them
- Brisbane photographer to be sentenced for string of child sex abuse incidents
- Kye John Tanson pleaded guilty to 60 child sex offences from 1997 to 2015
- Prosecutors called him a 'master manipulator' and 'committed paedophile'
- In one case Tanson photographed a 13-year-old in her underwear while she slept
A photographer has been labelled a 'committed paedophile' after he gained the trust of parents and sexually abused their children in a string of sickening attacks.
Kye John Tanson, 41, fronted Brisbane District Court on Wednesday for a sentencing hearing after he pleaded guilty to 60 child sex offences that were committed between 1997 and 2015, Courier Mail reported.
Of the charges, 11 include counts of rape against 15 children - nine of the victims were girls, six were boys.
Prosecutors have labelled Tanson a 'master manipulator' and 'committed paedophile'.
Tanson met his victims, mostly teenagers, in the Wide Bay and south-east regions of Queensland, through activities such as board game meet-ups, single parent support groups, medieval re-enactment events or his tutoring job.
Kye John Tanson, 41, fronted Brisbane District Court on Wednesday for a sentencing hearing after he pleaded guilty to 60 child sex offences that were committed between 1997 and 2015 (stock image)
'He would use public events, public forums, to get close to victims and their families,' crown prosecutor Chris Cook told the court.
'He said he used photography to help troubled teens get out of their homes and away from their parents.'
In one case Tanson tied up and photographed a boy - who he met at a board game meet - and showed the child pornography.
The court heard Tanson would gain the trust of families and later attend sleepovers where games of 'Truth or Dare' would be played and alcohol consumed.
But the activities would lead to the children being molested and raped, often while they were asleep.
The court heard Tanson took photos of a 13-year-old girl while she slept in her underwear.
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In a separate incident he digitally raped a 12-year-old girl while she was also sleeping.
'Mr Tanson cunningly won the trust of these children but also their families, particularly their parents,' Mr Cook said.
'Mr Tanson was a master manipulator.
'He put these children through humiliating experiences. His motivation seemed to be his own sick, sexual gratification.'
Prosecutors have labelled Tanson a 'master manipulator' and 'committed paedophile' (pictured, Brisbane District Court)
After Tanson had a child, he attended a support group for 'Parents Without Partners' where he made friends with other parents.
Tanson befriended a family and later raped the nine-year-old daughter and bit her nipple while she slept.
He only stopped when she woke up, the court heard.
In what prosecutors labelled the worst of his offending, he met a girl on Facebook and maintained a two-and-a-half year relationship with her.
After they had sex the first time, he asked her to falsely claim in a letter she was 16 years old when she was just 13.
He would go on to anally rape her seven times.
Tanson also abused a 13 year-old-girl for 18 months and claimed he was in love with her.
He asked her to marry him, but became verbally aggressive towards her when the relationship was ending.
Mr Cook said Tanson had no hope of rehabilitation.
Tanson will be sentenced later today.
