Blacktown Hospital nurse Michael Camilleri-Gray charged with child abuse material offences

A nurse at a major western Sydney hospital has been accused of distributing child abuse material online after an international probe.

A nurse at a western Sydney hospital has been accused of accessing and

transmitting child abuse material online after a tip-off from an American authority

investigating child exploitation.

Michael John Camilleri-Gray, 47, was arrested at his Cranebrook home by Australian Federal Police on March 13 and later charged with two counts of using a carriage service to possess child abuse material, using a carriage service to access child abuse material and use a carriage service to transmit child abuse material.

Camilleri-Gray was allegedly identified by police following a tip off from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), about a man allegedly uploading child abuse material online.

He applied for bail at Penrith Local Court on Friday, supported by several members of his family.

The court was told it would be alleged the offences occurred just under a year, and that Camilleri-Gray showed “active” and “enthusiastic interest” in the material.

Michael John Camilleri-Gray (right) faces multiple charges relating to child abuse material. Picture: Facebook

It was further alleged he had conversations with other users online where they swapped material, and discussed their enjoyment of the footage.

The court was told Camilleri-Gray’s iPhone and MacBook were seized, where a number of files were allegedly uncovered as well as conversations on the encrypted app Telegram.

Camilleri-Gray is currently out on conditional bail. Picture: AFP/Supplied

Around 100 files were located on the iPhone, which was a mix of both the child abuse material and adult material, and more than 400 files were found on the MacBook, police allege.

Defence lawyer Nicholas Franklin told the court his client was employed at Blacktown Hospital as a registered nurse, but will be suspended from his job.

Mr Franklin told the court if his client was granted bail, it would be under strict conditions – including house arrest.

He said Camilleri-Gray had strong community ties and was a person of good character.

It was not alleged Camilleri-Gray created the material himself or had any connection to the child victims in the content.

His family also offered $5000 surety for Camilleri-Gray’s release, which would be forfeited if he breached his bail.

Magistrate Stephen Corry granted Camilleri-Gray bail with strict conditions, including strict house arrest and being banned from going within a certain distance of schools, playgrounds or anywhere children are known to be. He returns to court on May 9.