More charges could be laid against alleged pervert photographer Michael Townsend, court hears

More potential victims of a photographer charged with indecently assaulting children during home photo shoots have come forward, a court has heard.

A photographer who allegedly asked children to pose naked and indecently assaulted them could be charged with more offences relating to a further five complainants, a court has heard.

Michael Andrew Townsend, 36, of Parafield Gardens is already facing multiple charges including producing child exploitation material and aggravated indecent assault.

Prosecutor Kelly Smith said police were currently in the midst of interviewing more alleged victims and expected to lay more charges against Mr Townsend.

“Prosecution has, in the last few weeks, been informed by the investigating officer that there are a potential four or five further complainants that have come forward and made allegations of a sexual nature against Mr Townsend,” she said.

Ms Smith asked the court to delay the case for five months to allow investigators time to build their case involving the new alleged victims so that all of the allegations would be heard together when the case moves up to the District Court for trial.

Michael Townsend, 36, who allegedly asked children to pose naked and indecently assaulted them. Picture: LinkedIn

The court has previously heard Mr Townsend, who worked for a performing arts school, was arrested earlier this year after he allegedly groped and molested young girls in home photo shoots, before messaging them online.

It heard the earliest offences date back to October 18, 2020, more than two years ago.

The court has also previously heard the allegations relate to Mr Townsend asking young children, aged 8 and 10, to pose naked and place their hands on each other.

It has also previously heard he had messaged an alleged victim online. One of those messages read: “I hate what I did”. Another read: “You had the look I love and wanted to capture that”.

On Monday, Ms Smith said investigators were also trawling through “significant” amounts of data and material stored on Mr Townsend’s devices.

The court has previously heard e-crime investigators were wading through 57 exhibits, some of which were as large as 18 terabytes.

Mr Townsend’s lawyer told the court her client intended to plead not guilty to the existing charges.

Magistrate Roderick Jensen delayed the entering of those pleas until a hearing in May, when it is expected any new charges would be laid.

He told prosecutors the matter must be called on before the next date to allow Mr Townsend to enter his pleas if no new charges were to be laid.