RAAF mechanic Michael O’Brien, 48, refused bail over claims he tried to procure sex with girl, 13
Williamtown RAAF mechanic Michael O’Brien has been denied bail in relation to allegations he tried to procure sex with a 13-year-old girl using online apps.
Newcastle
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A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) mechanic charged with trying to procure sex with a teenage girl was arrested at the Williamtown base in front of colleagues, a court has heard.
Michael O’Brien, 48, was refused bail after allegedly using an internet app to procure a 13-year-old girl for sexual activity.
He appeared via video link at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Thursday.
He is facing charges of using a carriage service to procure person under 16 years for sexual activity; possessing child abuse material using a carriage service and possession of material held in a data storage device and a carriage service being a mobile phone.
Mr O’Brien held his head in his hands and cried as Magistrate Brett Shields refused bail on over the charges for alleged interactions between December 18, 2019 and January 21 2020.
Magistrate Shields read from court documents containing police allegations that Mr O’Brien, used chat apps to make contact with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl when in fact he was speaking to officers from the Child Abuse Sex Crime police unit.
The court heard Mr O’Brien allegedly engaged in a series of conversations with the “person” which involved sexually explicit conversations, images and discussions around sexual acts.
“Mr O’Brien has randomly chosen what he thought was a child through the internet,” Magistrate Shields said.
“Those aspects raise a significant danger to the community.”
He said there were no bail conditions he could impose to address the concerns around danger to the community.
In his release application Mr O’Brien’s lawyer Peter Bates told the court Mr O’Brien had been a mechanic with the RAAF for 30 years and was arrested on base at an orientation event in front of his work colleagues.
“He has stable accommodation, no criminal history and strong ties in the community,” Mr Bates said.
“There’s no history of violence at all. He never intended to meet up with anyone. He had the opportunity which he didn’t take. In his words, he’s been ‘awfully stupid’.”
Mr Bates said there was a strong need for Mr O’Brien to look after his son.
The prosecution argued there was a strong case against Mr O’Brien considering material found following a search warrant of his home and certain “admissions” made by Mr O’Brien.
The court heard each charge carried a maximum of 15 years jail.
Mr O’Brien will appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on March 23.