NZ-born firefighter pleads guilty over child pornography charges in Australia

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A decorated New Zealand-born fireman has been caught sharing thousands of child pornography images and videos in Australia.

Tony Brian Gillespie, 31, was arrested last November after police seized two laptops and mobile phones from his home at Banora Point in northern New South Wales, The Daily Telegraph reports. Gillespie, who received a special award for his firefighting work during the 2012 Queensland floods, had boasted online that he enjoyed "pre-teen" child porn, police said.

Police say he joined file-sharing website GigaTribe last April and under the user name "Tommyfun1".

In a five-day period alone, he's alleged to have downloaded 6000 files containing images and videos of child abuse, the Telegraph reported.

During an online conversation, Gillespie allegedly told the discussion forum he liked "pre-teen" children.

"I have been downloading it. I download it on my computer," he allegedly told police after his arrest.

The Telegraph said Gillespie had pleaded guilty to six charges which included the downloading and promotion of child porn and possession of child abuse material. The charges carry a 15-year maximum penalty.

He was bailed with strict conditions to his parents' house and banned from having contact with children aged under 16.

Auckland-born Gillespie, who also runs a lawn mowing business, resigned from his on-call job at Banora Point fire station in December.

He will be sentenced later this year.