Justen Shawn Orford in court for allegedly possessing child exploitation material

The case against a former Townsville principal charged with possessing child exploitation material has been met with an unexpected hurdle.

Justen Shawn Orford, 47, walks from the Townsville Watchhouse with defence lawyer Anderson Telford on July 30, 2021. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The case against a former Townsville principal charged with possessing child exploitation material has met an unexpected hurdle.

Justen Shawn Orford is facing charges including three counts of making child exploitation material, one count of possessing tainted property and seven counts of possessing child exploitation material.

He is also charged with three counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse material.

He is yet to enter a plea.

Orford was arrested and charged in July 2021 after a months-long police investigation.

At the time of Orford’s alleged offending, he was the principal at St Joseph’s Catholic School, Mundingburra.

Justen Shawn Orford, 47, walks from the Townsville Watchhouse on July 30, 2021. Picture: Shae Beplate.

During the committal mention of Justen Shawn Orford in Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday, it was heard police had been unable to provide a report to Orford’s lawyers.

The report formed part of a disclosure request put forward by Orford’s lawyer, Anderson Telford.

Mr Telford told Magistrate Richard Lehmann that while two of the items on the disclosure request had been made available, including “some images and video to view” – that report had not been.

He requested an adjournment to give police time to provide the report.

Police prosecutor Lisa Plessius said she did not know how long it would take to find out when Mr Telford could access the report, but said she did not think it would be longer than three to four weeks.

It was heard the computer on which the report was viewed “crashed or crashes” when the officer attempted to open the file.

Orford’s matter was adjourned to January 17 for committal mention, with his bail enlarged.

Originally published as Justen Shawn Orford in court for allegedly possessing child exploitation material