AFP sacks IT worker Ian Perry over child abuse material charges

A man facing 11 charges, mostly relating to child abuse material, can be revealed as a former Australian Federal Police IT worker.

Ian Perry leaves court on Wednesday. Picture: Blake Foden

An Australian Federal Police employee has been sacked after he was charged over alleged child abuse material offences.

Ian Charles Harcourt Perry, 40, worked for the force in an IT role prior to his arrest last year.

When he first faced court in April 2023, the AFP’s community policing arm issued a statement that revealed a man from the Canberra suburb of Bonner had been charged following an investigation by the ACT Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team.

The ACT Policing media release did not disclose the fact he was a police employee.

Sources have since told this masthead Perry was a long-term employee of the AFP, which issued him a “show cause notice” soon after he was charged.

Ian Perry outside court on Wednesday. Picture: Blake Foden

On Wednesday, in response to questions about Perry’s employment, an AFP spokesman confirmed the 40-year-old had been dismissed.

“AFP Professional Standards can confirm the man’s employment with the AFP was terminated in October 2023,” the spokesman said.

Ian Perry worked for the Australian Federal Police. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

The AFP’s response came hours after Perry made his most recent appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court.

He is facing 11 charges, including seven counts of using a carriage service for child abuse material.

The other charges are of possessing child abuse material, possessing child exploitation material, failing to comply with an order made by a magistrate, and obstructing, preventing, perverting or defeating the course of justice.

On Wednesday, defence solicitor Michael Kukulies-Smith told the court there had been a delay in obtaining advice from barrister Kieran Ginges because of time spent “waiting on police”.

The coat of arms outside the ACT Magistrates Court, where Ian Perry appeared on Wednesday. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

The court had previously heard police were sifting through an estimated 20 terabytes of data from Perry’s electronic devices as part of their investigation.

Mr Kukulies-Smith said now Mr Ginges had looked at the matter, Perry’s lawyers wanted to discuss “the charge matrix” with the office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

He asked magistrate Jane Campbell for a six-week adjournment, saying the case would be ready for committal to the ACT Supreme Court “one way or the other” on the next occasion.

Mr Kukulies-Smith did not say whether Perry had previously entered any pleas.

Ms Campbell ultimately granted the adjournment, which federal prosecutor Luke Fomiatti did not oppose.

Perry, who remains on bail, is due back in court next month.