Canberra man with 17yo 'girlfriend' charged over alleged child abuse material
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Australian Border Force officers allegedly discovered child exploitation images on Nicholas Quinn's electronic devices when he re-entered the country. (ABC News: Avani Dias)
In short:
A man has been charged with possessing child abuse material after a search of his electronic devices when he returned to Australia from Europe.
Police allege Nicholas Quinn, 42, has been maintaining a relationship with a 17-year-old girl in Ukraine.
What's next?
Mr Quinn was refused bail, with his case to return to court next month.
A 42-year old Canberra man allegedly caught returning to Australia with child abuse material has been refused bail.
Australian Border Force officers selected Nicholas Tyson Quinn for examination after he landed in Sydney on a flight from Europe in May.
It is alleged they found child exploitation images as well as inappropriate conversations on a messaging app, with further investigation uncovering multiple transfers of money to a teenager in Europe.
ACT police raided Mr Quinn's home in Chisholm yesterday, where it is alleged they found a USB storage device containing child abuse material plugged into his computer.
He faced the ACT Magistrates Court today, charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material.
Nicholas Quinn was charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Applying for bail, Mr Quinn's lawyer told the court he could comply with conditions including living at home with his mother and surrendering his passports.
But the prosecutor opposed his release, alleging Mr Quinn had been in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl in Ukraine, and his mother had previously travelled there with him and met with the teenager and her mother.
The court heard Mr Quinn's employers allegedly told police about the travel to Ukraine, and that he had been trying to move his "girlfriend" to Australia.
Concerns about persistent contact with young person, dual citizenship
As an Australian and Latvian dual citizen, the prosecutor argued bail conditions could not prevent Mr Quinn from seeking a new Latvian passport in order to flee the country.
Magistrate Alexandra Burt said the prosecution had not been able to confirm whether police believe the Ukrainian girl was depicted in the child abuse material.
Despite being unable to confirm that detail, she refused bail due to the likelihood of Mr Quinn attempting to flee or endangering the safety of others.
"Ultimately, there is a degree of speculation in those risks, I accept,"
Magistrate Burt said.
"It is a case where the investigation is at a fairly preliminary stage.
"I am concerned, partly because of the persistence of contact after the Australian Border Force intervention and of the connection with these two people — one of which is a young person — in Ukraine … and his dual citizenship."
Mr Quinn was remanded in custody to return to court next month.
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