Michael Thomas Mowbray: High school IT worker to fight possess child abuse material charges

An IT worker at an elite Sydney high school is fighting charges that he allegedly possessed child abuse material. See what happened in court.

Michael Thomas Mowbray, 29, of Richmond, outside Manly Local Court on March 29, where he faced possess child abuse material charges. He pleaded not guilty to three charges when he appeared in court on Wednesday. A fourth charge was withdrawn. Picture: Manly Daily

A former IT technician at a top Sydney high school will fight charges of possessing child abuse material, Manly Local Court has heard.

Michael Thomas Mowbray, 29, is alleged to have had some of the material at North Sydney Girls High School, a top public selective secondary school.

Mowbray, from Richmond, was an IT officer at the school on the Pacific Hwy at Crows Nest.

On Wednesday, Mowbray pleaded not guilty to three counts of possess child abuse material.

A fourth possess child abuse material charge was withdrawn.

In documents tendered to court, police alleged that Mowbray possessed child abuse material at Crows Nest on November 11, last year.

Michael Thomas Mowbray (left) 29, of Richmond, outside Manly Local Court on March 29. Picture: Manly Daily

Police also alleged they found child abuse material “between 11am and 3pm on November 23 at Crows Nest” through the use of a search warrant.

According to the court documents, police also alleged that at 4pm the next day — November 24 — Mowbray possessed child abuse material at Richmond, in Sydney’s northwest.

North Sydney Girls High School on the Pacific Highway at Crows Nest, one of Sydney’s top selective secondary schools. File picture: NCA NewsWire / Tim Pascoe

Magistrate Robert Williams adjourned the matters for mention to Manly Local Court on June 21.

Mowbray’s strict conditional bail was continued.

As part of the bail conditions he must report daily to Windsor police station and is not allowed to enter any school or childcare centre for work or private reasons.

An Education Department spokesman told the Manly Daily that the safety and wellbeing of students and staff was its top priority.

“Once we were aware of an issue, we immediately shut down access to the school’s IT network,” the spokesman said.

“We have been working closely with NSW Police on this matter and the Department’s IT experts have worked with the school to ensure its IT networks are safe.

“The school has provided updates to the parent and carer community. As this matter is still before the courts, we cannot comment further.”