Burnie man pleads not guilty to a raft of child sexual abuse charges

Burnie man pleads not guilty to more than 70 child sex abuse charges - many which relate to children overseas

A TASMANIAN man has been committed to the Burnie Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to a raft of child sexual abuse charges – many relating to children overseas.

John Oldfield Nettleton, of Burnie, pleaded not guilty to more than 70 charges in the Burnie Magistrate’s Court this morning and was remanded in Risdon Prison to appear in the Supreme Court on June 9.

Nettleton appeared via video link from Risdon Prison where he has been since late last year.

A warrant was issued for Nettleton’s arrest after he failed to appear in court in November.

The fail to appear charge was today adjourned sine die.

The charges, laid by the Australian Federal Police, include seven counts of procuring a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, one of persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia, four counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia and 21 of having child abuse material.