Man in court for child exploitation

A 40-year-old man appeared in the Rockingham Magistrate’s Court today facing a string of charges, including child exploitation offences.

Adam Philip Abbott appeared via video link from Hakea Prison after being charged with 20 counts of distributing child exploitation material, possession of child exploitation material, possession of bulletproof clothing, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a firearm/ ammunition while being unlicensed.

The charges came following an ongoing inquiry into possession of child exploitation material and after police executed a search warrant on a home in the Mandurah District on November 22.

During the search police allegedly seized child exploitation material; drug items; ammunition; a bulletproof vest; prohibited weapons; and various electronic storage devices.

It is also alleged an iPad seized during the search warrant was owned by Mr Abbott and contained more than 20,000 child exploitation images.

Mr Abbott was also charged with 15 counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations.

During the court hearing Mr Abbott’s lawyer said his client intended to “defend” the charges.

He was denied bail and will next appear in court in January.