A Moruya disability pensioner accused of sexually harassing and grooming two underage girls on social media - one whom turned out to be an undercover detective - has been labelled a "predator" by police.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
David Brian Frewin, 48, faced Wollongong Local Court on seven charges including two counts of using a carriage service to send indecent material to a person under 16 years and grooming a child under 16 for sex.
The charges stem from two separate police investigations into Frewin's alleged lewd and criminal behaviour online last year.
In the first incident, it is alleged Frewin used the Facebook profile "Moruya Mack' to contact a 13-year-old girl on multiple occasions in June, asking her to come over to his house so he could perform various sexual acts on her.
The girl did not reply and a short time later Frewin allegedly phoned her through Facebook Messenger.
The girl handed the phone to her father, who told Frewin not to call again as his daughter was 13 year's old.
The girl's father reported the matter to Batemans Bay police a few days later.
It is alleged Frewin contacted the girl again in August, sending her sexually explicit content, prompting her father to again tell Frewin to cease all contact.
When he threatened to report Frewin to police, Frewin allegedly told the man he knew where the family lived, knew where the girl went to school and knew "her every movement".
The girl allegedly received further messages from Frewin at the end of August and the matter was again reported to police.
Meanwhile, officers from State Crime Command's child exploitation unit launched an undercover sting involving Frewin, in which an officer posed as a 14-year-old girl online and initiated contact with Frewin through his "Moruya Mack" Facebook profile.
Frewin allegedly sent the girl several sexually explicit messages over the next two months, despite her repeatedly telling him she was 14 years old.
It is alleged he sent her pornographic images as well as a picture of his erect penis and offered to get her drugs to "enhance the sexual experience for her".
Another conversation occurred between the pair on December 23, when Frewin allegedly sent the girl a message from a social media account under the name "David Roots" and included a photograph of a phone number which police later determined was registered to Frewin.
Frewin allegedly sent the girl further sexually explicit messages on New Year's Eve and January 5, the later during which Frewin allegedly sent the girl a picture of a naked adult female.
There was no further communication between Frewin and the girl after that.
Detectives swarmed on Frewin's Patterson Close home on Wednesday, seizing firearms and ammunition from inside the house, as well as electronic items.
Frewin was taken to Batemans Bay Police Station and interviewed, where he admitted to sending the girl sexually explicit images and messages.
Police opposed Frewin's application for bail in court on Thursday, saying the need to protect the community and vulnerable victims was paramount.
"The [alleged] facts are disturbing...he's shown persistent predatory behaviour," the prosecutor said.
Defence lawyer Danny Lagopodis said Frewin would agree to strict bail conditions, however Magistrate Mark Douglass refused to release Frewin back into the community.
"The cases against him appear to be strong and he will serve a custodial sentence of some length if he's convicted," he said.
The case was adjourned for plea or mention in Batemans Bay Local Court on July 19.