Author Convicted for Novel Depicting Toddler Roleplay

A 34-year-old Australian author has been convicted and sentenced on three charges related to child abuse material following the publication of her novel depicting an adult roleplaying as a toddler in a sexual relationship.

The verdict was delivered at Blacktown Local Court by Magistrate Bree Chisholm, who stated the book "sexually objectifies children" and creates "a visual image... of an adult male engaging in sexual activity with a young child."

Lauren Ashley Mastrosa, of Quakers Hill, New South Wales, was found guilty in February 2025 of producing, possessing, and disseminating child abuse material. She was sentenced on Tuesday to an 18-month community corrections order and placed on the New South Wales Child Protection Register for eight years.

The Novel

The 210-page novel, titled Daddy's Little Toy, was published under the pen name Tori Woods in March 2024. Mastrosa issued a digital pre-release version to 21 advance readers. The book's cover features pastel pink coloring and the title spelled in children's alphabet blocks.

The narrative features an 18-year-old character named Lucy who engages in roleplay as a toddler with an older man named Arthur. The book contains trigger warnings including age gap, daddy kink, infantilization, physical abuse, profanity, sexually explicit scenes, and slut-shaming.

Legal Proceedings

A complaint to Crime Stoppers led police to execute a search warrant at Mastrosa's home in March 2024, where they found 16 hard copies of the book.

Magistrate Chisholm found that despite repeated references to Lucy being 18 years old, the character was implied to be a child through descriptions and language used during sexual activity. The magistrate determined the book invites readers to imagine what child abuse material legislation prohibits.

Court Arguments

Mastrosa's barrister, Margaret Cunneen SC, argued that the character is 18 years old throughout the novel and that roleplay between consenting adults is legal. Cunneen stated that Mastrosa intended to write an erotic book, not child abuse material. The defense noted that Mastrosa wrote the book as an escape following a thyroid cancer diagnosis and multiple miscarriages.

"Mastrosa made a mistake, is not a pedophile, has lost her job as a marketing executive for a Christian charity, has faced death threats, and will not write similar material again," the defense stated.

Crown prosecutor Milijana Masanovic argued that the novel normalizes child abuse material and fuels the market for child exploitation.

Sentencing

Magistrate Chisholm stated that a non-conviction was not appropriate given the extent of sexualized content involving a young child, adding that "general deterrence looms large and the sexual exploitation of children even from such an unsuspecting defendant cannot be minimised."

Mastrosa remains on bail pending any potential appeal. The maximum penalty for producing, possessing, or distributing child abuse material is 10 years' imprisonment.

Courtroom Observations

Mastrosa sat with her husband during the proceedings. She did not react visibly when the judgment was delivered but sometimes sat with her eyes closed during the reading of findings. She wore sunglasses and did not speak to reporters when leaving court with her husband and lawyer.