Teacher Paul Hunt in Taree court on child sex abuse material and drug charges

The disgraced teacher and radio host facing child sexual abuse material and drug charges has entered a plea in relation to the drug offence. See what happened in court.

Paul Hunt has been charged with possessing and sending child abuse material. Picture: Facebook.

The shocking case of a Taree teacher and radio host charged with accessing and disseminating child sexual abuse material was held up again when it came back before court on Wednesday.

Paul Hunt is charged with possess child abuse material, disseminate child abuse material and possess prohibited drug.

The 57-year-old has been in custody since his arrest on the night of Saturday, November 19, after police officers executed a search warrant at his Tinonee home following a tip off earlier that week. Tinonee is a small village near Taree.

The last time the matter came to court on December 6, lawyers were unable to get instructions due to a search operation at the prison where he is being held on remand.

Hunt was previously represented by private lawyers Drinkwater Criminal who represented him when he unsuccessfully applied for bail on November 21.

Mid North Coast radio host and teacher Paul Hunt is facing charges of possessing and sending child abuse material. Picture: Facebook.

The court heard on Wednesday that he would now be represented by Legal Aid but there was some confusion as to the exact representation.

At one stage Magistrate Allison Hawkins asked: “Have we heard Mr Hunt’s matter?”

It wasn’t until after 3pm that a Legal Aid lawyer representing Hunt told the court he would be pleading guilty to the possess prohibited drug charge but was not ready to enter pleas on the other two matters – possess child abuse material and disseminate child abuse material.

The case was adjourned to February 15.

More details emerge about former teacher and radio host

When officers searched Hunt’s Tinonee home on November 19 after a tip off, they 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 presented the weekly music show Terra Australis and Ship of Fools on 2 BOB community radio for many years.

He has performed with local musicians and been 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 Hunt had recently completed his bushfire assessment and joined the Tinonee Rural Fire Service brigade.

Paul Hunt was a member of the Tinonee RFS. Picture: Facebook

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 spokesman said.

“As this is a NSW Police matter, we are unable to provide further comment.”

The NSW RFS was also contacted for comment but did not respond.

In a letter tendered to the court from Drinkwater Criminal lawyers in support of his initial bail application on November 21, 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.

The letter also stated Hunt would agree to use only one mobile phone and not be in the presence of anybody younger than 16.

The lawyer representing him at the time 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.