Tyrone Leigh Utiger released on home detention bail

A man charged with possessing child exploitation material and assaulting police is claiming police “made up the story” to charge him with assault.

Tyrone Leigh Utiger was released on home detention bail by the Christies Beach Magistrates Court. Picture: Kaysee Miller

A Bedford Park man charged with possessing child exploitation material, assaulting police and cultivating cannabis claims police “made up a story” to charge him with assault.

Tyrone Leigh Utiger, 22, faced the Christies Beach Magistrates Court via video link on Monday.

The court heard during a search of his home Utiger allegedly assaulted a police officer and left him with a bleeding nose.

Defence lawyer Yasmin Faiyad told the court Utiger was contesting the charges against him.

“He saw (the police officer) come to the door so he jumped up to open the door for him and then he moved out of his way and it was then that police tackled him to the floor,” Ms Faiyad said.

“He asked them several times to turn their cameras back on, he feels like it was an abuse of power and that they were taking advantage of him.

“He did hear them in background trying to make up a story to pretty much say that he did what he did but he completely denies the allegations.”

Tyrone Leigh Utiger is charged with assaulting police. Picture: File

The court heard police had attended Utiger’s home on January 8 after receiving information he was in possession of child exploitation material.

“Police attended at the home address, a video camera was activated … police spoke to the defendant and he advised he didn’t wish to answer any questions and he wished the video recording be paused,” a police prosecutor told the court.

“During the search, the defendant attempted to enter rooms where police were searching he was advised to remain seated on the lounge in the lounge room and not to hinder police.”

Police allege Utiger assaulted a male police officer who was re-entering the property through the front door during the search.

“The policeman opened the front door and as he did this the defendant stood up quickly from the couch running towards the open door and the police officer,” the police prosecutor said.

“As the defendant reached the police officer he raised his elbow in an upwards motion deliberately striking the police officer … pushed the police officer against a wall and commenced to rush out the front door.

“He was tackled to the ground in the front yard.”

Police further allege a single cannabis plant as well as images of “young girls suspected to be under 14 years of age”, including a “partially naked female child”, were found during the search.

Magistrate Lynette Duncan released Utiger on home detention bail with strict conditions restricting his contact with children and use of the internet.

Utiger will face court again in February.