Barrie James Harold Mann faces court on child abuse material, weapons offences

A pensioner in his 70s faced court accused of making and possessing child exploitation material, as well as unlawfully possessing a firearm. Here’s what happened in court:

A Burnett pensioner in his 70s has been charged with making and possessing child exploitation material.

Barrie James Harold Mann, 78, faced court on Tuesday on 18 charges, including 15 counts of possessing child exploitation material and one count of making child exploitation material.

The elderly man was also charged with possessing a category B rifle and ammunition without a licence, which he pleaded guilty to.

His lawyer Mark Werner asked that the child exploitation be adjourned to obtain instructions from Mann before they moved to the district court.

Police told the court the rifle and ammunition were discovered during a search of Mann’s Ballogie property on September 3.

Mr Werner told the court Mann inherited the rifle from his father and intended to complete a weapons safety course to keep it.

“The gun is considered a family heirloom and he is very keen to keep a hold of it,” he said.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair noted the charges were the first time Mann had come before the courts, and placed him on a $500 good behaviour bond.

He also ordered the weapon be collected by a licensed person within two months or it would be forfeited.

No convictions were recorded.

The child exploitation charges were adjourned to February 1.

Originally published as Barrie James Harold Mann faces court on child abuse material, weapons offences