Coffs Harbour court refuses bail in child abuse case

A man allegedly set up a recording device in his own home and “bragged” in an online chat about sexually touching a child, a Coffs court has heard.

A man has appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court charged with possessing and creating child abuse material and sexually touching a child.

A man facing a raft of child abuse-related charges bowed his head in his hands and wept after failing to win bail when he appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court.

The man, who cannot be identified due to a court order, faced 19 charges including 10 counts of produce child abuse material, five counts of disseminate child abuse material, three counts of possess child abuse material and one count of intentionally sexually touch child aged between 10 and 16 years of age.

His defence counsel told the bail review hearing the charges would be defended.

The defence said the man, 31, from the Coffs Harbour region, would enter into a strictest form of conditional bail - to effectively be under a 24-hour curfew - should it be granted.

The court heard being in custody prevented the man from accessing appropriate medical treatment and psychological support.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Heidi Warren asked the court that bail remain refused.

Ms Warren said police would allege the accused had set up a recording device in his own home and had “bragged” about the alleged sexual touching in an online chat.

In refusing bail, Magistrate Ian Rodgers said the charges were of a very high level of “seriousness” - and that a custodial sentence was “inevitable” should they lead to conviction.

The matter has been adjourned to April 26.