A man accused of describing to online covert police sexually explicit acts he wanted to perform on a young girl allegedly made partial admissions to discussing child sex on the internet when he was arrested, Newcastle Local Court has heard.
James Kendall Newton sat in the dock with his face in his hands on Friday afternoon as Magistrate Janine Lacy denied his application for bail, saying the court had "considerable concerns" for community safety should he be conditionally released.
Mr Newton was arrested at a Mayfield home about 8am on Thursday after he allegedly told a police officer online - who was disguised as the mother of a nine-year-old girl - about how he wanted to sexually abuse the child.
The sting came after the State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit began investigating him last September.
Police are examining electronic devices seized at his home.
Mr Newton, charged with using a carriage service to transmit/publish/promote child abuse material, applied for bail in court on Friday afternoon. He has not entered any plea.
Magistrate Lacy agreed with the concerns raised by the prosecution and refused, saying a sentence of full-time custody was likely if the Mayfield man was found - or pleaded - guilty.
She said the police facts of the case she had read were "deeply concerning" and that Mr Newton had allegedly made partial admissions to discussing children in sexual scenarios online as he was being arrested.
Magistrate Lacy said the graphic detail of what she had read caused "considerable concern for safety of individuals in the community".
Mr Newton will face court again on April 19.
To see more stories and read today's paper download the Newcastle Herald news app here.
