Lauren Ashley Mastrosa, a 34-year-old former marketing executive for a Christian charity, has been convicted but spared jail for writing child abuse material in her novel Daddy’s Little Toy, published under the pen name Tori Woods. The book, which was read by 21 advance readers, depicts an 18-year-old woman who role-plays as a toddler with an older man.
Court Sentencing
At Blacktown local court in western Sydney, Judge Bree Chisholm imposed an 18-month community corrections order, stating that a non-conviction was inappropriate given the extent of sexual activity involving a young child. Mastrosa was placed on the child protection register for eight years.
Defense Arguments
High-profile barrister Margaret Cunneen SC argued that Mastrosa made a mistake and was not a paedophile. She noted that Mastrosa wrote the book as an escape after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and experiencing multiple miscarriages. Cunneen emphasized that the books had been destroyed and there was no ongoing risk to the community.
Prosecution Stance
Crown prosecutor Milijana Masanovic pushed for a conviction, stating that the book normalized child abuse material and fueled the market of child exploitation. She acknowledged character references describing Mastrosa as kind and charitable, but noted that good people can sometimes do bad things.
Background
Mastrosa was found guilty in February of three child abuse material offences: producing, possessing, and distributing child abuse material. The judge found that the book sexually objectified children, creating a visual image of an adult male engaging in sexual activity with a young child.
Since her arrest, Mastrosa has lost her job, faced online death threats, and been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. She is willing to undergo psychological treatment. She can appeal against the ruling. The maximum penalty for such offences is 10 years' imprisonment.
