Police had to give chase to James Shaw when he took off through floodwaters then surrounding the River Deck Cafe, Albury Local Court has heard.

They initially found Shaw had a knife so promptly arrested him, then he expressed concern about his bag possibly falling into the water with his laptop computers inside.

A police search found two laptops and a mobile phone, with most of the child abuse photographs on one of the computers.

These comprised 255 category one child abuse images and 145 of the more serious category four images.

The latter category is used to describe photographs portraying children involved in sexual penetration with other children or adults.

Shaw has been in custody since his arrest that day in Noreuil Park on September 17.

This week he appeared via a video link to court from jail, where he will remain for now after pleading guilty to possessing child abuse material and custody of a knife in a public place.

Magistrate Tony Murray ordered that a pre-sentence report be prepared on the bearded Shaw, a 46-year-old who gave his address as a Lavington caravan park.

The court was told how the mother was at Noreuil Park with her young daughter.

Police arrived in the park about 5.30pm and saw Shaw “run quickly” through floodwaters towards the cafe.

They followed him and managed to arrest Shaw behind the building.

It was then that they saw a knife pouch attached to his belt.

Inside the pouch was a multi-tool containing a knife blade about 8 centimetres in length.

Police arrested him because they said he had “no lawful excuse” for carrying the knife.

He then told police: “I have laptops in that bag, don’t let them get wet.”

Shaw was escorted out of the floodwaters and put into the cage in the back of their vehicle.

The bag was searched when he was back at the Albury police station.

On one laptop they found a folder containing video and pictures, including of Shaw in costume and performing “a number of sexual acts” as well as some child abuse images.

The majority of the abuse pictures were on the other laptop. Shaw will be sentenced on December 1.