'I'm an artist': Pedophile defends 'child-like' sex dolls following customs crackdown
A self-confessed pedophile has called his child-like sex dolls a work of art, after a customs crackdown on the dolls being imported into Australia.
Fairfax reports border force officials had seized 18 consignments of the sex dolls, sent from overseas since 2013.
The life-like dolls, which resemble children and are sold wearing lingerie, are sold by Japanese company Trottla.
The Australian Federal Police has confirmed the dolls had been destroyed or used for further investigation.
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Earlier this year more than 60,000 people signed a petition calling to ban the dolls.
"This petition hopes to ban the sale and import of Child Sex Dolls in Australia. Ideally, the manufacture and sale of these sickening 'aids for paedophiles' will be ceased globally," the petition reads.
The manufacturer claimed the dolls could be used to help pedophiles control their urges, despite experts suggesting there is no evidence to support such claims.
Trottla founder Shin Takagi described himself as a pedophile, although he claimed he had never acted on his urges. He said the dolls were a “substitute” for a human girl.
Earlier this year Mr Takagi told The Atlantic he was “helping people express their desires, legally and ethically".
"We should accept that there is no way to change someone's fetishes," he said.
"It's not worth living if you have to live with repressed desire."
Mr Takagi told Fairfax he was “an artist” and was unhappy the petition against the dolls had used a photo from his website without permission.
Trottla claims to supply dolls to clients globally and promotes more than 100 dolls on its website.
A Department of Immigration and Border Protection spokeswoman told Fairfax the possession of "anatomically correct child dolls" was an offence as they were considered child exploitation material.
Penalties for importing the dolls carry fines of up to $450,000 and 10 years imprisonment.
In 2014, a 31-year-old Sydney man was charged with owning child abuse material.
It was reported that when federal police raided his home, they allegedly found a life-like child doll in his bed.
