Registered sex offender Andrew Ralston hit with grooming, child abuse material charges

A registered sex offender is facing new charges after he was allegedly busted communicating with a police officer posing as a child online.

Andrew Ralston is facing charges including possessing child abuse material. Picture Julia Kanapathippillai

A registered sex offender is facing a raft of child sex related charges after he was allegedly busted communicating with a police officer posing as a child online.

Queanbeyan man Andrew Ralston is facing charges including four counts of failing to comply with sex offender register obligations.

He is also charged with using a carriage service to groom a child under 16 for sex, for using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, possessing child abuse material, attempting to use a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child and possessing child abuse material obtained through a carriage service.

Andrew Ralston leaves Queanbeyan Court on a previous court appearance. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Court attendance notices state on October 9 last year he allegedly sent messages to groom a fictitious online identity who he believed to be aged under 16.

The fake online account Mr Ralston allegedly interacted with was run by a police officer.

It is alleged during his communication with the fictitious identity Mr Ralston solicited child sex abuse material.

Documents also allege while communicating with the fictitious identity he attempted to engage in sexual activity with the person he believed to be under 16.

Court attendance notices state on October 14 he was caught with child abuse material, and he was caught possessing child abuse material he obtained through a carriage service.

On Tuesday his case was due to be committed to the district court, however it was adjourned.

Mr Ralston is remanded in custody and will return to court later this month.