South Australian commercial pilot pleads guilty in court to seven different child sexual abuse charges, identity suppressed

An Adelaide pilot working for a commercial airline has just confessed to vile crimes against children.

A South Australian pilot who works for a commercial airline has today confessed to a raft of child sexual abuse charges.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the pilot, whose identity has been suppressed, appeared via video link from custody where he has been since his arrest late last year.

The man pleaded guilty to seven crimes that occurred in November and December last year, with prosecutors dropping seven other charges in satisfaction of his pleas.

The charges he confessed to include one count each of producing, possessing and disseminating child exploitation material, two counts of gross indecency and two counts of indecent assault.

The court heard the offences were committed on two children under the age of sixteen.

At his first appearance, the court heard his mobile phone contained 18 “explicit videos” that depicted him with a child.

In court on Wednesday however, his lawyer told Magistrate Simon Smart that there had been an additional child identified as a victim.

He was initially refused bail due to his occupation, with prosecutors also concerned that his skills and connections could allow him to take flight during ongoing investigations.

He remains in custody after a failed second bid for bail in the Supreme Court, which was also refused.

The pilot was remanded in custody to appear in the District Court in August where a date will be set for sentencing submissions.

Originally published as South Australian commercial pilot pleads guilty in court to seven different child sexual abuse charges, identity suppressed