A 30-year-old man accused of impersonating a police officer to interview a five-year-old girl about an alleged sexual assault has been refused bail in far north Queensland.
Trevor-James White, of Trinity Beach, allegedly went to a home at Palm Cove on Wednesday night and interviewed the child, then posted the video online. He faces five charges including making and distributing child exploitation material, using a carriage service to transmit child pornography material, and impersonating a police officer.
Police opposed bail citing White's criminal history, including a 2012 case where he impersonated a public officer while wearing a vest marked 'Police' and a cap with 'Narcotics Officer', allegedly pulling over traffic. He was also caught with handcuffs last year and has a history of making vexatious calls to police, including false reports of having a gun to a friend's head and claiming he was in Martin Place with a gun, later admitting he was playing Grand Theft Auto.
White's solicitor argued the behaviour was unplanned and not for sexual gratification, but Magistrate Joe Pinder noted the serious nature of the charges and White's criminal history, remanding him in custody until August 17.
