By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A 25-YEAR-OLD man accused of child pornography has been refused bail at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court, partly in fear he could destroy some of the online evidence.
Benjamin Michael Gledhill had been arrested by Australian Federal Police at his home, where the most extreme categories of pornography involving children, sadism and bestiality were allegedly found on 13 December.
First Constable Scott Amjah, of the AFP, told the court that among the seized material found in print and on electronic devices was an image of a naked young child who was “tied up and bound”.
“The early indications say yes, he’s definitely been sharing (the images) in some form.”
First Const Amjah quoted extracts from a conversation on the messenger app Kick, in which Gledhill allegedly chats to ‘Derek’ and says “that’s a pretty collection of videos, man”.
On other app chats with unknown people, he says his preference is for “pre-teen” sex, “teens, incest, nudism” and “boys and girls 1-10” – which First Const Amjah told the court he assumed meant 1-10 years old.
Gledhill had previously served a community corrections order for similar offending in 2012, the court heard.
In arguing for bail, Gledhill told the court he’d complied with previous bail conditions including weekly visits to Pakenham police station, psychological treatment and being banned from the internet.
He said he complied with his CCO’s community work conditions and appointments.
“I’ve never been held in custody or remanded before,” he said.
“That’s quite concerning for me.”
Police had arrested Gledhill after a referral from a US company in early November about the transmission of child pornography, the court heard.
Federal police linked the transmission to a G-mail account, which led them to Gledhill, First Const Amjah said.
Gledhill had told police that he had 40 online accounts, some of which had not yet been accessed by police, First Const Amjah said.
If the accused was released on bail, he could easily access and delete the online material and compromise the AFP investigation, the court heard.
Gledhill was charged at Dandenong police station that day but didn’t participate in a police interview.
He made no admissions during field interviews, First Const Amjah said.
Magistrate Barry Schultz described the allegations as “very serious” and “very concerning”, particularly in light of the 2012 offending.
“Despite the community order and the treatment and seeing the psychologist allegedly … it seems to me those steps were ineffective,” Mr Schultz said.
“I accept the reason you got the disposition you did (in 2012) was that you were 21 and age was the single factor in your favour.”
Mr Schultz said he refused bail because Gledhill was an unacceptable risk of re-offending, a risk to public safety and of obstructing justice.
Gledhill was remanded to appear at a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 14 December.
