Ex-Moriah College teacher jailed over 1100 ‘depraved’ child abuse files

Published: 16 May 2023

Last updated: 5 March 2024

There is no suggestion any of the offences happened at the school or related to Moriah students.

Cody Michael Reynolds, 37, pleaded guilty in December to possessing or controlling child abuse material between November 2021 and February 2022, transmitting child abuse material on March 9, 2022 – the day of his arrest.

Sentencing Reynolds in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Thursday, Judge Phillip Mahony said it was “callous and pernicious offending” involving the exploitation of children unable to protect themselves and fed an “abhorrent market”.

“He made conscious and deliberate decisions to offend,” the judge said. “I find that he did so for his own sexual gratification.”

Mahony was satisfied no sentence other than imprisonment was appropriate. He set a maximum jail term of two years and 10 months, but ordered that Reynolds be conditionally released after serving one year and six months.

The court heard more than 1100 images and 58 videos were found on Reynolds’ devices, including files in a hidden folder of his iPhone camera roll and on his work laptop, depicting children aged between two and 16. He used a variety of names for accounts including aliases mentioning “filth”.

Reynolds’ employment as head of English at Moriah College, a top private school in Queens Park, was terminated in March 2022.

In a letter sent to parents, the school said it had been contacted by federal police regarding Reynolds’ arrest and advised there was nothing to suggest the offending occurred at Moriah College or related to any contact with students.