Richard Douglas: Oakhurst truck driver allegedly paid to watch overseas live-streamed child abuse

A truckie accused of paying to watch a child being sexually abused over livestream has applied for bail, after suspicious messages were allegedly found on his phone.

Richard Douglas was denied bail on Thursday last week.

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A truck driver accused of paying to watch a child being sexually abused over livestream has been denied bail after suspicious messages were allegedly found on his phone when stopped at Sydney Airport.

Richard John Douglas, of Oakhurst, appeared at Downing Centre Local Court by video link with his lawyer Matthew Wade applying for his bail on Thursday.

He is yet to enter a plea to causing a child under 16 to have sexual activity in presence of self outside of Australia, carrying a maximum 20 year jail sentence.

Police allege the 47-year-old did engage in sexual activity – other than sexual intercourse – with a child between January 9, 2023 and January 10, 2023.

According to the Australian Federal Police, the Oakhurst man was arrested and charged after he was stopped by Australian Border Force officers when returning from overseas at Sydney International Airport.

It is alleged the AFP found messages where the man “provided instructions to another adult to sexually abuse a girl, while he watched on livestream video” during a search of his phone.

Richard Douglas.

Commander Kate Ferry said the AFP believed the child was in the Philippines and officers were working closely with local authorities to identify the girl, remove her from harm and identify any alleged child abuse facilitators.

Mr Wade said on Thursday, his client had no criminal history and had strong community ties, given his daughter was present in court, and would allow him to live with her in Werrington.

He told the court she was prepared to forfeit $5000 if he failed to appear in court and he was willing to report at least five days a week to police.

Mr Wade said Douglas not applying for a passport, and not being allowed to go within 100 metres of international departure points, would significantly mitigate the risk of failing to appear.

Magistrate Paul Mulroney said his real concern was the likelihood of Douglas committing a further offence and safety to the community.

He noted there was a strong prosecution case and the alleged offending wasn’t “impulsive”.

Mr Wade proposed for his client to only have a burner-type phone which can only make calls, given Douglas worked as a truck driver for nine years, and would need a phone.

Mr Mulroney questioned how Douglas would adhere to reporting conditions, saying he’d need to “break the space time continuum”.

The prosecutor opposed Douglas’ bail, saying he was facing a lengthy jail sentence if found guilty and he was a risk of absconding due to working interstate.

She said the facts alleged very serious physical and emotional distress to a 14-year-old child and police were analysing his phone and a conversation on Skype had been identified.

Mr Mulroney said Douglas had been charged with a “most serious offence”.

“In order to commit an offence of this nature a person needs to cross some very significant lines … this is not [something done] accidentally,” he said.

Douglas was ultimately refused bail and the matter was adjourned to March 20.