Mikhail Robert Gordon refused bail at Port Macquarie Court into alleged child sex offences
Police will allege a grocery store security guard began engaging in explicit online conversations with police - he thought was a 14-year-old girl - before allegedly attempting to procure the minor for sex.
Mid-North Coast
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Police will prepare a detailed brief of evidence into the alleged online activities of a 57-year-old man, who has been accused of engaging in sexually explicit online conversations with a girl, 14, who he allegedly attempted to procure for sex.
Mikhail Robert Gordon, of Port Macquarie, was not present at Port Macquarie Local Court today where the matter was briefly heard before Magistrate Georgina Darcy. No plea was entered and bail was formerly refused for the man which court documents stated worked as a local security guard at a grocery store.
Prosecutors today sought a short adjournment to allow for a brief of evidence to be served in to the matter, which dates back to November last year when police began engaging online with the man who thought he was talking with a 14-year-old girl, the court heard.
It is alleged that detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation internet Unit (CEIU) – A Commonwealth entity – began engaging online with a man from Port Macquarie.
Police allege that Gordon was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually explicit acts he wished to perform on the child.
It will be further alleged the man made arrangements to meet the girl for sex.
Following extensive investigations, Strike Force Trawler detectives arrested a 57-year-old man at a beach in Port Macquarie on Wednesday, October 7.
He was taken to Port Macquarie Police Station and charged with use carriage service to procure child under 16 years for sexual activity, use carriage service to solicit child abuse material and possess/control child abuse material using carriage service.
Reasons for the refusal of bail, made by police earlier this month, stated they regarded Gordon as a risk to the community.
“This is a [alleged] serious offence,” the application in court documents stated.
“The accused has made extensive plans to [allegedly] sexually assault a 14-year-old girl and the online conversation clearly shows that he [allegedly] had every intention of carrying out the assault.”
It also stated that the man worked as a security guard at a local grocery store.
Police allege the offending occurred over a 10 month period between November 8, 2019, and September 10, 2020.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the CrimeStoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.