A young Sydney man has narrowly avoided a prison sentence after admitting to accessing and possessing a massive collection of child abuse material, a case described by a Chief Justice as "distressing, abhorrent, and depraved."
Disturbing Details Emerge in Court
David Dakessian, also known as David Fannoun, appeared dejected in Sydney’s Central Court on Friday for sentencing. The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to a single count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material and one count of possessing it. These charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years behind bars.
Despite the severity of the crimes, Chief Justice Sarah Huggett granted Dakessian a two-year recognizance release order. This order allows him to remain out of jail on the condition he is of good behaviour. The decision prompted a visible wave of relief from his supporters in the courtroom; one woman even fainted upon hearing the outcome.
Dakessian himself exhaled deeply as he was released from the glass dock, embracing tearful attendees before going to check on the woman who had fallen unconscious.
A Vast and Depraved Collection
The court heard that at the time of his arrest at a home in Epping on September 5, 2024, the then 19-year-old had access to a staggering 22,519 files depicting the abuse of children. The victims ranged from very young babies to young teenagers.
Of these files, 11,405 were videos, with detailed descriptions of several being read aloud in court. The content was deemed too graphic for publication. Dakessian was also found in possession of three videos and one image on his personal phone, the details of which Justice Huggett refused to read out loud.
A Path to Offending Rooted in Addiction
Investigations revealed that police had identified Dakessian as early as December 2022, after he used an email account featuring his family name to access the illegal material. Justice Huggett noted the method showed "some planning, but unsophisticated."
Further probing found he had been accessing the files since February 25, 2024. This behaviour was linked to a crippling pornography addiction that began in his youth. Psychological reports presented to the court detailed that Dakessian had unrestricted internet access from the age of nine and began viewing adult websites by age 11.
Already socially isolated, he retreated further into internet spaces and online gaming communities. After leaving school in Year 10, his addiction accelerated, leading him into BDSM content and consuming about three hours of adult material daily.
However, Dakessian claimed he was never sexually aroused by the child abuse content. Instead, he described a morbid curiosity, partly driven by knowing it was "wrong" and his desensitisation to sexual content.
Justice Huggett stated that an immediate release on recognizance is reserved for "exceptional circumstances," which she found applied in this case. Dakessian, who spent less than two months in custody, was ruled to have his best chance at rehabilitation outside of prison. He is required to report to police, continue with mental health and rehabilitation services, and cannot travel interstate or overseas without written permission.
