A New South Wales judge has questioned how a Newcastle man was able to allegedly sell books containing child abuse material via a worldwide online retailer.
Convicted paedophile Steven Andrew Larkins fronted an online bail court on Tuesday morning charged with six offences.
The charges include producing, possessing and disseminating child abuse material.
It is alleged the 60-year-old authored two books and then sold copies via Amazon.
The bail court heard he sold three to four books through the retailer.
The court was told that because Mr Larkins was writing about 16-year-old boys, he thought it was legal due to the consenting age in NSW being 16.
Judge James Viney questioned if NSW Police had made enquiries of Amazon.
“I’m very concerned that Amazon has no way of vetting what they’re advertising for sale,”
he said.
NSW Police prosecutor Patrick Sinclair said the officer in charge was in the process of approaching Amazon to remove the books from sale.
Judge Viney also questioned Amazon’s criminal liability and whether the retailer may be charged.
But the police prosecutor was unable to provide information on that.
Bail granted despite opposition
The NSW Police prosecutor opposed bail due to the “unacceptable risk to the community” and concerns of further offending.
Mr Sinclair told the court Mr Larkins made admissions to police.
The court heard Mr Larkins has previously served a full-time sentence for aggravated indecent assault.
Mr Sinclair told the court Mr Larkins had a public profile for “like offending” and was someone who should have known better.
In her application for bail, defence solicitor Sara McCarley said Mr Larkins was a carer for his father with dementia.
She said no other family members were able to care for him.
Judge Viney granted bail with a number of conditions.
Mr Larkins must report to police once a week and is not to have contact with any person under the age of 18.
He is also banned from using Amazon or similar platforms to publish material.
Steven Andrew Larkins outside Newcastle Courthouse in 2012. A NSW bail court heard he had previously spent time in prison for aggravated indecent assault. (ABC Newcastle)
Mr Larkins can only have access to one mobile phone, and the SIM card details and phone PIN code must be provided to police.
Judge Viney asked if the court had “the power to order the deletion of the Amazon catalogue”.
The court was again told the officer in charge will approach Amazon to have them removed.
Amazon has been contacted for comment.
Mr Larkins’ case will return to court next week.
