Australian children’s book author Craig Silvey has been charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material, and allegedly communicating with paedophiles online.
Silvey, 43, who has written award-winning books featuring “transgender” teenager characters and anti-racist themes, faced Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday, a day after he was arrested by Western Australia Police Child Exploitation Operations detectives who searched his home and seized his devices.
The father of three daughters was allegedly actively engaging with other child exploitation offenders online when officers arrived at the property, and a police prosecutor told the court Silvey allegedly spoke to another user on an adult website on January 7, The West Australian reported.
“Fremantle guy here, you sound amazing, looking gorg too, we have very similar interests, would love to chat more,” he allegedly wrote.
The prosecutor told the court Silvey had allegedly expressed a sexual interest in children, had provided images, and used the name “Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy” on the adult website, ABC News reported.
The court also heard Silvey had refused to allow police access to his electronic devices, which were now the subject of a court order.
The prosectutor opposed bail on the grounds that Silvey regularly interacted with children at school book event visits and was a “flight risk”, but Magistrate Thomas granted bail on strict conditions, despite saying imprisonment was “likely” if he was convicted, and the allegations were “very serious”.
“In my view, he’s got no record, he’s entitled to legal advice … my view is bail is appropriate,” he said.
But Silvey was not released from custody after his $100,000 surety could not be signed, and was taken away in a prison van.
He did not enter a plea, and will appear in court again on February 10.
Silvey’s books include Honeybee, which is written from the perspective of a “transgender” 14-year-old, but were pulled from public schools by WA Education Minister Sabine Winton after the charges were laid.
He also campaigned for the Voice to Parliament, and has promoted drag queens reading to children.
Header image: Left, right, Craig Silvey (Instagram).
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