The travel ban imposed in Australia to curb the spread of the coronavirus has helped a Coniston retiree allegedly discovered in possession of fake international passports and a litany of hard-core child pornography be released from jail.
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As part of his release, David William Seddon will also only be able to access the internet to search for the government's COVID-19 health information while living in a Wollongong motel, among 14 other bail conditions.
The 68-year-old was arrested in July last year and was refused bail at the time following a targeted, two-month investigation by Wollongong detectives that led them to uncover "an enormous amount of gay porn" involving both children and adults, as well as extreme examples of child abuse material.
In court documents, police alleged they uncovered a cache of fake foreign travel and identification documents, including a high quality Philippine passport and driver's licence each bearing Seddon's photograph but containing a fictitious name, address, date of birth of nationality.
Police also allegedly located several passport photos showing Seddon wearing various disguises, multiple books on the topic of creating a new identity, emails to a company inquiring about how to use the dark web and a bottle of Viagra tablets.
Seddon, who has been behind bars since July, faced Wollongong Local Court on Thursday where Magistrate Geraldine Beattie agreed the risks, particularly that he would flee the country, could be mitigated with strict conditional bail.
Seddon's lawyer submitted his client should be released because of his age, the delay in the case proceeding due to a backlog caused by coronavirus measures, as well as the increased risk of Seddon becoming infected with the virus if it was to spread into the prison population.
The Crown prosecutor conceded the shutdown of airports and imposed travel ban would mitigate Seddon's risk of failing to appear and agreed to bail conditions that significantly restricted his access to the internet.
Seddon, who had no other criminal history, agreed to obey 16 bail conditions which included that he reside at a Wollongong motel, tell police if he changes address and abide by a curfew from 9pm to 7am.
In relation to reducing the potential danger to the community, Magistrate Beattie imposed conditions that Seddon must not remain in the company or presence of a person under 16 years old; must not loiter near a children's facility including a school, preschool, child care and playground; not contact a child aged 16 years and under by any means including through a third party; and not seek employment where a child is in care.
Seddon must also not access the internet by any means except to view the government's COVID-19 website; must only use/possess one device with access to the internet; and must provide his mobile number to police.
The amateur script and song writer must comply with police requests to inspect his device and search his home for other devices.
Seddon's passport and travel document had to be surrendered and he is prohibited from applying for a new one; can not depart Australia and can not enter any domestic or international point of departure.
He also forfeits $10,000 surety if he fails to meet court dates and is prohibited from contacting any police witnesses.
Last year, Seddon was arrested following a bizarre conversation he was said to have had with a member of the public at a local hotel in April.
Court documents said Seddon told the person he was having trouble in his personal life.
"I love c--k [but] at my age I can't seem to find any sexual partner that are gay and want to have intercourse with me," he allegedly told the person.
"So that's why I like to have sex with younger boys."
Seeing the person's apparent shock, Seddon allegedly went on to say "consensual of course, all consensual."
"When young boys see my third leg they get shocked and very aroused by it - all of age of course, 16 and over an consensual," he allegedly said.
The person later told police Seddon went on to say he didn't want to hurt kids or go to jail, despite the fact that one might think jail would be a good place for a gay man "because I'd get a lot of sexual activity".
Seddon then allegedly gave the person his business card and a CD containing original tracks he'd written including one titled "Don't Play Fair" and another titled "Don't Tell Daddy".
An investigation was launched after the concerned person reported the conversation to police.
Seddon allegedly gave no explanation for the child abuse images located on his laptop during an interview with police.
"Based on the pornography viewed the accused has a preference for jail scene sexual encounters, sexual bondage/slavery, sexual torture and father/son pornography," police said in documents tendered in court.
However, in relation to the fake documents, he allegedly told detectives it was research for a script he was thinking of writing.
Seddon was charged with possessing child pornography, knowingly possessing false foreign travel documents and having suspected stolen goods in custody.
The case will return to Wollongong Local Court on April 23.