Photographer Michael Townsend faces new charges of grossly indecent act and producing child exploitation material

A photographer who allegedly assaulted children and asked them to pose naked is facing new charges with potentially more victims, a court heard.

A father who allegedly assaulted children and asked them to pose naked has been slapped with two new charges.

Michael Andrew Townsend, 35, is now also charged with a grossly indecent act and producing child exploitation material, after police allege his photo shoots had a sinister purpose.

A prosecutor told the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday e-crime were working their way through 57 exhibits, some which were as large as 18 terabytes.

“There is a possibility of possible further identifiable complainants,” she said.

Mr Townsend, who worked for a performing arts school, was arrested earlier this year after police allege he molested and groped young girls at home photo shoots, before messaging them online.

The court previously heard Mr Townsend was arrested after an ongoing investigation, with the earliest charge dating back to October 18, 2020.

“A (minor) said at a photo shoot Townsend asked her inappropriate questions about her sexuality and he grabbed the collar of her shirt and looked down,” a prosecutor said.

The prosecutor alleged on the same day Mr Townsend asked two children aged 8 and 10 to place their hands on each other and pose naked.

On another occasion Mr Townsend attended an address for a photo shoot and allegedly groped the chest of a child while her grandparents were home.

Police also allege that Mr Towsend, contrary to bail conditions, then messaged the alleged victims online.

“Some of the messages are concerning your honour, he says ‘I hate what I did, I’ve been abused myself in a similar way’ and ‘you had the look I love and wanted to capture that’,” the prosecutor said.

The court previously heard Mr Townsend was the full-time carer of a seven-year-old son who had severe disabilities.

On top of his two new charges, Mr Townsend, of Parafield Gardens, is also charged with three counts of indecent assault and procuring a child for sexual activity.

Sushila Cole, for Mr Townsend, told the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday the charges were not admitted at this stage but she needed to take further instructions.

Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal adjourned the charges until November.