John Leslie Morton arrested in Sydney on child abuse charges

Detectives have raided a unit in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after a man allegedly shared child abuse material with a minor.

Australian Federal Police have swooped on a man living in Sydney’s eastern suburbs who allegedly shared child abuse material with a minor.

John Leslie Morton was arrested at a brick apartment block in Hillsdale on Tuesday after an investigation by the AFP’s NSW Child Protection Operations team.

Police will allege the online activity of Mr Morton, 40, was flagged by the United States’ National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children over alleged child abuse material on an email account.

Police lead John Leslie Morton away on Tuesday. Picture: AFP

The centre first reported Mr Morton to the AFP on March 11.

During the raid on Mr Morton’s flat this week, officers seized several electronic devices to examine forensically.

He was refused bail to appear before Central Local Court on Tuesday afternoon, charged with four offences: one count of using a carriage service for child abuse material, two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed through a carriage service, and one charge of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to person under 16.

Magistrate Jennifer Price granted Mr Morton bail on condition he report daily to Maroubra police and not possess any electronic device including mobile phones, tablets or laptops.

He was granted bail in court. Picture: AFP

Mr Morton was also banned from accessing the internet while he remains on conditional bail.

In a statement after his arrest, AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Simone O’Mahony said the impact of using and sharing online child abuse material went far beyond “a simple click of the button”.

“One image can tell a story of physical harm and lifelong trauma. One image can tell a story of rape and torture,” she said.

Supt O’Mahony said any Australian dealing with child abuse material was “complicit” in the abuse.

Mr Morton will return to court on September 1.