The wife of a 33-year-old fly-in, fly-out worker accused of producing and distributing an “extensive amount” of child exploitation material has expressed concerns to police that he may have committed offences against his own children, a Kalgoorlie court has been told.
Charges and allegations
The Goldfields mine site worker sought bail from custody in Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Tuesday after being charged with producing, distributing, and possessing child exploitation material. He faced one charge of producing, one charge of possessing, and nine charges of distributing child exploitation material in Kalgoorlie-Boulder in May and June.
Prosecuting Sgt Kim Sullivan told the court about multiple conversations the FIFO worker allegedly had on messenger apps Session and Teleguard, where he sent multiple photos and videos of child exploitation material to other users, followed by videos of himself masturbating. Sgt Sullivan said the photos and videos contained female children under-16 and under-13, with some “visibly younger than nine”.
Disturbing details
In one instance, the FIFO worker allegedly discussed his sexual interest in children before describing in graphic detail how he sexually penetrated a 13-year-old girl in her driveway while her parents were inside. Sgt Sullivan alleged the FIFO worker declared to police in an interview that he produced CEM from a real sexual encounter he had with a 13-year-old girl when he was 17.
The worker was arrested on a Goldfields mine site at his FIFO residence. His device was seized and more than 250 photos and images of CEM were allegedly found, but Sgt Sullivan said police were yet to determine exactly how many there were because of the “extensive amount”. He said the “comprehensive download” of the FIFO worker’s device was still to be completed and could take days.
Wife's concerns
Sgt Sullivan alleged the FIFO worker made a point of removing the messenger apps off his phone after each swing, before he returned to his wife and children in Perth. He told the court the FIFO worker’s wife expressed concerns he had offended “in the same way” against their two children, who are both aged under 13 and who were being interviewed by a specialist.
Sgt Sullivan said police were still investigating potential further offences.
Bail application
The man’s lawyer Leneva Polmear launched a bail application and said he could live at his father’s house in Perth. Ms Polmear said appropriate conditions could be enforced, including no contact with children. Sgt Sullivan opposed bail because of the severity of the charges.
Magistrate William Yoo said the charges were “just so serious” and that the FIFO worker would likely spend years in jail if convicted. He ordered a home detention report and will consider granting bail at a second hearing on July 9. Mr Yoo warned the FIFO worker he still might not get bail and to “be under no illusion” about it.
