A man accused of using the internet to solicit child exploitation material from undercover police officers was refused bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday.
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Brett Hartley-Kennett, a 27-year-old from Chisholm, was charged with four counts of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material.
Mr Hartley-Kennett was alleged to have solicited the material from undercover federal police operatives who were posing online as people younger than 16.
Mr Hartley-Kennett's defence sought to impose bail conditions that would have limited his internet usage for work-related purposes.
Prosecutor Kate Reardon said the charges before the court indicated "extremely serious offending" and there was a strong prosecution case.
Ms Reardon said the allegations were "calculated, serious offending against a particularly vulnerable class of people, being young girls".
She said the court needed to have confidence the bail conditions were enforceable and there was a risk Mr Hartley-Kennett would interfere with evidence if released.
"These [allegations] are too serious for those risks to be taken," Ms Reardon said.
Magistrate Robert Cook said he held concerns for the community if Mr Hartley-Kennett was released and was not satisfied appropriate bail conditions could be imposed.
Mr Cook refused bail and marked Mr Hartley-Kennett as a prisoner at risk.
Mr Hartley-Kennett will next appear in court in August.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
