Acclaimed Australian author arrested on child exploitation material charges

Well-known Australian author Craig Silvey has been charged with possessing and distributing child abuse material.

The 43-year-old Fremantle-based author was arrested at his home on Monday after allegedly “actively interacting” with other child abuse offenders online.

“He was immediately arrested and his electronic devices were seized,” a WA Police spokesman said.

Silvey is best known for his 2009 novel jasper jonesHe was charged with distributing child abuse material and possessing child abuse material.

He appeared in Fremantle Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday; where state prosecutors alleged that over several days in January, Silvey participated in online conversations in which he expressed a sexual interest in children and distributed child abuse materials.

He also allegedly refused to give police a password to access his mobile phone, laptop and other devices. He did not enter a plea and will return to court in February.

The judge described the charges as “very serious”.

Silvey was released on bail on $100,000 surety on the condition that he report to the local police station three times a week, but he defaulted on bail and was set to spend the night in jail on Tuesday.

He is also prohibited from doing any work with children, including school visits, and is not allowed to be around children, including his own, unsupervised. He was also banned from accessing the internet.