Self-confessed child abuser Maurice Van Ryn should receive a more lenient sentence for child sex offences because overcrowding in the state's jails makes imprisonment more arduous, a court has heard.
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As Van Ryn pleaded guilty to a further four charges on Friday, including the rape of a 15-year-old boy, his barrister, John Heazlewood, argued that difficulties in accessing basic facilities and education programs should be taken into account in sentencing his client.
Mr Heazlewood tendered a report, "Full House: The Growth of the Inmate Population in NSW", which showed that the Parklea Correctional Centre was operating at 51 per cent above its intended capacity.
The special programs centre connected to Silverwater prison, which provides programs for sex offenders and violent offenders, is 71 per cent above capacity, the report showed.
Mr Heazlewood told the sentencing hearing that overcrowding meant prisoners were severely restricted in their ability to access pay phones and other basic facilities, and led to "greater tensions in the yard".
This had a particular impact on Van Ryn because sex offenders already suffered greater restrictions on their movement and access to services.
"Mr Van Ryn gave evidence that his ability to move within the prison was severely limited," Mr Heazlewood said.
"There are less opportunities for education…and he says you don't get the same rights as the rest of the prison population."
A spokesman for Van Ryn's victims said the claim that sex offenders found it difficult to access facilities because of prison overcrowding did not amount to an argument for lesser sentences.
"There's an obvious answer – build specific facilities for sex offenders," the spokesman said.
Earlier, Van Ryn, wearing a crumpled grey suit and a pink tie, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
All four new charges related to the same victim – a 15-year-old boy – and occurred between January and December 2010.
Crown Prosecutor Michael Fox described the former chief executive's actions as "predatory".
"The escalation of the offending occurred because the offender was able to ingratiate himself with the complainant to the point where it almost became routine," he said.
"The complainant became habitualised to the offending."
Mr Van Ryn will be sentenced on September 9.
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