Far-left children’s book author Craig Silvey has been charged with more child exploitation offences, but remains out on bail in Western Australia.
Silvey’s books were pulled off school shelves after he was allegedly caught communicating with paedophiles from his home in Fremantle in January and charged with possessing and distributing child abuse material.
The award-winning author, 43, whose books feature “transgender” teenager characters and anti-racist themes, faced Fremantle Magistrates Court on Monday where two new charges – a new count of possession, and a new charge of producing child exploitation material – were revealed.
His bail was continued under the same conditions set when he was first charged, and Magistrate Thomas Hall adjourned the matter to May 5, The West Australian reported.
A woman, 68, from Marangaroo, has also been charged as part of the investigation into Silvey, and police allege forensic analysis of seized electronic devices show she produced and distributed child exploitation material with the author.
She was arrested last month and remanded in custody to face Joondalup Magistrates Court on April 2 on two counts of producing and one count of distributing child exploitation material, and three counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations.
At Silvey’s first court appearance a police prosecutor alleged the author communicated with another user on an adult website on January 7 and wrote: “Fremantle guy here, you sound amazing, looking gorg too, we have very similar interests, would love to chat more.”
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.
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”.
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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