A man has been charged over the possession of alleged child abuse material following investigations by police on the Mid North Coast.
In December 2018, police were alerted to the alleged online activities of a Taree man.
Following inquiries, officers from the Manning Great Lakes Police District arrested a 21-year-old man at a business in Taree on Tuesday (15 January 2019).
After his arrest, a search warrant was executed at a home on Short Street, Taree, where police located and seized a replica pistol.
Officers also seized handcuffs and multiple NSW Police items, including a leather jacket and insignia badges.
During a subsequent search of the man's mobile phone, officers found hundreds of items of alleged child abuse material.
He was taken to Taree Police Station where he was charged with:
- Possess child abuse material (two counts);
- Use carriage service to access child abuse material;
- Possess prohibited weapon;
- Not police officer/special constable wearing police uniform; and
- Possess unauthorised firearm.
The man was originally granted conditional bail; however, the man was arrested again yesterday (Thursday 17 January 2019) following further examination of his phone.
He was charged with the additional offences of use child under 14 years to make child abuse material; and use child over 14 years to make child abuse material. He was bail refused Forster Local Court today (Friday 18 January 2019).
