Police are concerned that a Canberra man accused of importing a "sickening" childlike sex doll seems to have also shown an interest in online child abuse material, a court has heard.
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But Jeffrey Scott Deacon, 27, denies wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to a charge of importing prohibited goods without approval.
The Kambah resident fronted the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday morning, in what was his first appearance after he was arrested and released on police bail last month.
The Australian Border Force alleges that he is behind the arrival from China of a parcel that turned up in Sydney on September 11.
"The consignment was described as containing a display shelf, but when it was opened by officers, it was found to contain a silicon childlike sex doll and items of children's clothing," the force has said.
ABF investigators from NSW and the ACT spent nearly three weeks looking into the matter before raiding a Kambah premises and seizing two electronic devices for examination.
Mr Deacon was subsequently arrested and interviewed at his Canberra workplace on October 1, then taken to City Police Station and charged. His phone was also confiscated.
During his brief court appearance on Monday, he wore a hooded jumper and represented himself as he entered the not guilty plea.
The court heard he did not have a criminal record, but could face up to 10 years in jail if convicted of the solitary charge.
When quizzed by Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker about why police had imposed "very extensive" bail conditions, Commonwealth prosecutor Libby Sutton said Mr Deacon had demonstrated "something of a pattern of potential offending" online.
"It doesn't appear that this offence has occurred in total isolation," Ms Sutton told the court.
However, the prosecutor said that she did not currently expect further charges to be laid.
"The pattern of conduct indicating interest, perhaps, in child pornography is what police are concerned with," Ms Sutton said.
Ms Walker ultimately loosened Mr Deacon's bail conditions and adjourned his case until January 28 next year.
She also "strongly recommended" that he get some legal advice.
When Mr Deacon was arrested last month, Australian Border Force Superintendent Garry Low described the seized doll as "sickening".
He also said the force had "a zero-tolerance approach" to child abuse material.
"ABF officers use their unique skills and advanced technology to detect and stop prohibited items, including childlike sex dolls, at the border," Superintendent Low said.
"Our officers are also trained to investigate and prosecute those who seek to import this sickening material, which has no place in our community."
