An "obsessive" man found with 100,000 child pornography files was refused bail after his wife, who was supposed to monitor him if released, said she knew of his actions and had not thought they were wrong.
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In evidence in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, the wife, who has a personality disorder, spoke of bringing her husband food and drink while he watched child pornography in his computer room.
She said she had seen the images on his screen, prompting Commonwealth prosecutor Katrina Musgrove to ask: "Did you tell him it was wrong?"
The wife replied: "No."
Ms Musgrove then asked: "Did you think it was wrong?"
She replied that she had not.
David Walshe, 63, is currently before the ACT Magistrates Court on two charges relating to child pornography.
Police who have worked in the area for years say some of the material is the worst they have seen.
The court heard he had an obsessive sexual attraction to children, and had been convicted of indecent acts previously.
He has allegedly accessed child pornography material regularly since 2004, sometimes daily, and otherwise once or twice a week.
Roughly 100,000 files were found on various computers and devices in his home. Walshe, the court heard, was a hoarder and was proficient in IT.
Some of the material fell into the most heinous category of child pornography, and police say they found "fresh" files that had not been uncovered previously.
He has not entered a plea to the charges, and applied for bail before Magistrate Beth Campbell on Thursday.
Ms Musgrove opposed his release, arguing his obsession with child pornography made him likely to reoffend.
"Given the extensive period of time that he has been accessing child pornography material ... it's a very ingrained habit in the defendant," she said.
Walshe's defence lawyer argued he could be watched by his son and his son's partner and reside at their home. The defendant's wife could also help monitor him.
Computers and devices would be password-protected and placed in a single room, and any access of the internet would be immediately reported to police.
Ms Campbell told the court she had been considering granting bail on strict conditions, but the wife's evidence raised concerns.
She said she feared the wife may not be able to stand up to Walshe, and it was unfair to make her his sole guardian while the son and his partner were not there.
The magistrate said that was reinforced by the wife's evidence that she had not thought her husband's viewing of "horrendous" child pornography was wrong.
The matter will return to court at a later date.
