Primary school teacher Clayton Page, 57, arrested by JACET for allegedly grooming child online

The state’s top anti-child exploitation detectives have arrested a teacher and father of four after he was allegedly caught communicating with a child online.

Clayton Page has been charged with communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity. Picture: LinkedIn

A primary school teacher and father of four has been arrested by the state’s top anti-child exploitation detectives and charged with grooming a child online.

Clayton Page, 57, faced the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with one count of communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity.

Following his arrest by the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team, the Tanunda man was silent as the court heard allegations he had been communicating with a child on social media over a six-month period.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Page has been teaching primary school aged students across the state since 2008, in suburbs including Murray Bridge, Waikerie and Munno Para.

His profile also revealed he was also acting school counsellor at a school in 2011.

Clayton Page has been charged with communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity. Picture: LinkedIn

In Mr Page’s application for bail, the court heard the father of four would be supported by his family and his community if he was released from custody.

Prosecutors, however, asked that if the court were to release him, they consider imposing bail conditions that would stop Mr Page from communicating with any child under the age of 18 in “any form.”

“The offending occurred over a six-month period on a social media app,” prosecutors said.

“The main condition for bail we’d ask for is for him not to communicate with any child moving forward.”

Magistrate Edward Stratton-Smith agreed, and granted Mr Page bail on strict conditions that he not communicate with, or engage in any work relating to children.

“You must not engage in child related work, you must not to apply for child related work,” Mr Stratton-Smith said.

“You are not to contact or be in contact with any child under the age of 18, you must provide access and consent to police officers checking any devices that connect with the internet. You must not delete any internet history searches on any device.”

The arrest comes just days after The Advertiser revealed that, last year alone, 88 people were arrested by the combined AFP/SA Police team.

JACET detectives have made 88 arrests in the past year. Picture: Matt Loxton

They also removed 23 children in Australia and a further seven overseas from harm.

The team’s methods are highly secret but, from what courts have heard, involve everything from cutting-edge forensics and data analysis to covert operations and knocking down doors.

Mr Page, through his lawyer, asked for a suppression order that would prohibit publication of his name, claiming it would cause him and his family undue harm if he was revealed.

However, following opposition by The Advertiser, Mr Stratton-Smith dismissed the application.

He said there was a strong need for open justice in cases like this.

“I can understand this is going to be difficult for those around him, but we have a need for open justice,” Mr Stratton-Smith said.

“That is the consequence that faces anyone in this position. I sympathise, but the application is refused.”

Mr Page will face court again in December.