Lawyers refer to ‘WickrMe’ amid Taree teacher Paul Hunt abuse material charges
Lawyers representing the Mid-North Coast identity and disgraced teacher referenced an encrypted message app in their bid for bail. Read more about the shocking case.
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More details have emerged about the high-profile figure facing child abuse material charges on the Mid-North Coast.
Paul Arthur Hunt is charged with possess child abuse material, disseminate child abuse material, and possess prohibited drug.
The 57-year-old has been remanded in custody since his arrest on Saturday night and was refused bail at Taree Local Court on Monday and the case adjourned to December 6.
Officers searched his Tinonee home on Saturday night after a tip off earlier in the week and seized several items, including mobile phones, laptops and electronic storage devices, to undergo forensic examination.
Police will allege Hunt was accessing and sending child abuse material through a mobile phone app.
Going by the name ‘The Slunter’, Hunt has presented the weekly music show Terra Australis and Ship of Fools on 2 BOB community radio for many years.
He has sang with local musicians and performed as an MC for a number of local events including the annual EnviroFair at Taree.
Hunt was featured in a Wingham High School newsletter in term three of 2020, when he was an English teacher there at the time.
It was following the devastating fire season of 2019/2020 and he had recently completed his bushfire assessment and joined the Tinonee Rural Fire Service brigade.
The NSW Education Department was contacted for comment and a spokesperson provided the following statement:
“The person is no longer teaching at a NSW public school,” the spokesperson said.
“As this is a NSW Police matter, we are unable to provide further comment.”
The NSW RFS has also been contacted for comment but is yet to respond.
In a letter tendered to the court from Drinkwater Criminal lawyers in support of his bail application it was outlined that if given bail Hunt would agree to have only one phone, and not use the WickrMe app.
The instant messaging app allows users to exchange end-to-end encrypted and content-expiring messages, including photos, videos, and file attachments.
His lawyer also told the court the alleged offending which sparked the two charges was conducted over two months and “only” related to five images and that his lack of prior criminal convictions should be considered.
The case returns to court on December 6.
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