Brett Hestelow, 62, charged with sex and child abuse material offences after arrest on Susan Gilmore Beach

Police were initially called to a popular stretch of sand in Newcastle amid reports that a man was performing sex acts in front of shocked beachgoers. But it is what was allegedly found on his phone that has attracted further charges.

Police were called to Susan Gilmore Beach on March 20. (File picture: Glen Cox)

A man has been ordered to only use a smart phone for calls after police allegedly found hundreds of child abuse material images when they arrived at a popular inner-city Newcastle stretch of sand following reports of a man performing sex acts in front of shocked beachgoers.

Brett Hestelow, 62, is also banned from stepping onto Susan Gilmore Beach – a hidden-away stretch immediately north of Bar and Merewether beaches – after he was arrested on March 20 and later charged with one count each of carrying out a sexual act with another without consent and behaving in an offensive manner in a public place.

Police allege Hestelow was performing a sex act on himself in view of beachgoers.

He was granted police bail to appear in court later this month.

But it was when his mobile phone was searched that police attended Hestelow’s home in Cameron Park and took him back into custody.

Police allegedly discovered hundreds of images of child abuse material following a search of Brett Hestelow’s phone. (File picture: Istock)

Police will allege hundreds of images of child abuse material were found on his phone.

They also conducted a search warrant of his home.

Hestelow was granted conditional bail when he faced Parramatta Bail Court. (File picture)

Authorities will allege the images had been downloaded from online sources and were not of local children.

Hestelow was later charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material and one count each of possessing bestiality material and disseminating child abuse material.

He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on March 21, where he successfully made a release application.

Magistrate Paul Mulroney granted Hestelow bail on a range of conditions, including that he only have one mobile phone and only use it for calls as well as a social media ban.

Hestelow must also not go near, contact or try to go near or contact any child aged under 18 unless in the presence of a responsible adult.

He was also ordered to hand in his passport and must report to police three times a week.

Hestelow will face court for the alleged beach offences later this month and in May for the child abuse material charges.