Jeremiah Thomas Hay charged with multiple offences

A man facing two serious charges, including indecent treatment of a child, has given a bizarre reason for wanting to vary his bail.

Jeremiah Thomas Hay appeared before Hervey Bay Magistrate Court on Thursday charged with exposing a child under the age of 16 to an indecent photograph, using an electronic communication with intent to procure a person under 16 years, that he believed was under 16 years, to engage in a sexual act, and going to a public place, a skate park, to meet that child.

A man charged with indecent treatment of a child and using the internet to procure a child under 16 has tried to vary his bail so he could play futsal.

Jeremiah Thomas Hay appeared before Hervey Bay Magistrate Court on Thursday charged with indecent treatment of a child under 16 (indecent film) and using the internet to procure a child under 16 and intentionally meeting or going to meet child.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said when Mr Hay was initially given bail, conditions were put in place, including that he did not have contact with the child, he does not have access to any social media or internet unless supervised by his mother, that he comply with a 24 hour curfew with the exception of him being the company of his mother or to attend work, or when attending Churches of Christ.

Jeremiah Thomas Hay appeared before Hervey Bay Magistrate Court on Thursday.

The application was to vary the bail so Mr Hay could participate in activities that provided him with some social benefit, Ms McGarvie said.

The court heard Mr Hay wanted to play futsal in company with other adults, not children, and that support workers would be with him to provide supervision.

Ms McGarvie said Mr Hay had the burden of proving his circumstances had changed and his bail should be varied.

She said she was not persuaded there was a reason why bail should be varied.

Ms McGarvie said in reaching that conclusion, she had also taken into account that none of the support workers had provided an affidavit about their capacity to enforce the bail conditions and ensure he was completely monitored at all times.

The application to vary bail was declined.

The matter was adjourned until July 24, 2025.

Originally published as Jeremiah Thomas Hay charged with multiple offences