Chris Hoy, SC, said there simply was “no room in our society” for such vigilante behaviour.

The judge spoke at length about his clear abhorrence at what took place outside Allan Darrell Blake’s Olive Street, Albury, public housing home just days after he was arrested.

Blake’s green Mitsubishi Magna had the words “pedos car” next to his name on the car.

The front windscreen of the car was also smashed, while all four tyres were either slashed or deflated.

The graffiti included the word “dog”, also written in white paint, on the front passenger side of the car.

Blake never saw the damaged car first-hand as he has remained in custody since his arrest.

The attack prompted police at the time to warn against the “stupidity” of such vigilante attacks, and that policing “should be left to the police”.

Judge Hoy said it was vital that people took heed of the fact that there existed a judicial system in this country – including various players such as the police and the courts – that was the best and only way to deal with and adjudicate on allegations of criminal behaviour.

He said it was “disappointing” that some people instead took the path of “taking actions into their own hands”.

The images found on Blake’s computer were the same as those for which he had been jailed back in 2006. The court was told that Blake, who was not sexually attracted to children, had sighted the images just once in the past 10 years.

That was to download the images onto his newly bought computer, which did not have access to the internet as there was no modem.