A 62-year-old Sydney property manager, Colin Milne, has been denied bail after being charged as part of an alleged 'satanic' child sexual abuse material ring. Magistrate Alison Viney described the material found by police as the worst she has seen in nearly 20 years as a judicial officer.
Milne is the sixth person charged in the investigation, which uncovered a Sydney-based paedophile network involved in possessing, facilitating, and distributing ritualistic or satanic-themed child abuse material through an international website. Police seized electronic devices during a search of his Woollahra home.
Commonwealth Prosecutor Ania Dutka told the court the charges relate to at least 50 images and 10 videos, including abuse of infants, babies, and children. She said the material was extremely graphic, violent, and depraved, and also included a large volume of material concerning physical and sexual abuse of animals.
The court heard that members of the network allegedly discussed their preferences for videos among themselves. Prosecutor Dutka expressed grave concerns that Milne would contact other members to help them avoid detection if granted bail.
Milne's lawyer, Wilson Tighe, argued the allegations were non-contact offences and that his client would be vulnerable in custody as a gay man who is HIV positive. Milne pleaded for his release, saying he feared for his safety and had been told he would be bashed in prison.
Milne faces charges including using a carriage service to transmit and access child abuse material, disseminating bestiality and animal crush material, and participating in a criminal group. Five other men are before the courts, and investigators have identified 145 alleged offenders internationally, with referrals to law enforcement in multiple countries.
