Toowoomba man on 148 child exploitation charges held in custody

The 65-year-old man has not been required to enter any pleas to the charges and no allegations have as yet been aired in court.

The 65-year-old man was not required to plead to the 148 charges relating to child exploitation material.

A MAN charged with 148 matters relating to alleged child exploitation material has been remanded in custody.

When the 65-year-old man first appeared on the charges before Toowoomba Magistrates Court last month, his solicitor Chelsea Saldumbide made the unusual submission asking that her client’s bail be revoked and for him to be remanded in custody.

He had arrived at court with an overnight bag and was led away to the cells after a brief mention of the charges.

His case was mentioned before the same court this week with Ms Saldumbide saying she had just received the police brief of evidence and asked for an adjournment to take instructions from her client.

The man, who, due to the nature of the charges, cannot be named unless and until he is committed to stand trial, has not been required to enter any pleas to the charges and no details of the allegations have as yet been aired in court.

Among his 148 charges are 79 charges of involving a child in making child exploitation material, six of possessing and distributing child exploitation material, two of using a carriage service to prepare or engage in sexual activity or procure a person under 16, and one each of unlawful carnal knowledge, grooming a child under 16 with intent to procure engagement in a sexual act, and indecent treatment of a child.

Magistrate Kay Ryan remanded the man in custody and adjourned the case for committal mention back in the same court on January 27 next year.