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An Australian retiree has been refused bail after police allegedly found a raft of child abuse material on his laptop and a number of fake identification documents.
David William Seddon, 78, was refused bail on Wednesday in Wollongong Local Court despite offering to put up $100,000 of his life savingsup as surety/
Mr Seddon was arrested on his 78th birthday earlier this week after police searched his home and found the alleged documents and abuse material.
He is charged with possessing child abuse material, knowingly possessing false travel documents and goods in custody.
In court documents seen by news.com.au, police alleged Mr Seddon made "an alarming amount of inquiries in relation to accessing untraceable things such as the dark web, deleting current emails, changing identity and researching how to do it along with disappearing".
In court, Mr Seddon's voice shook as he spoke and, appearing via audio visual link from custody, often frowned and leaned in to listen to court proceedings.
Mr Seddon's defence lawyer described the 78-year-old as a "vulnerable man" and asked for him to be placed into protective custody.
As the court moved to approve the request, Mr Seddon interrupted.
"Your honour, could that take place from today," he said.
"I've got a bit of ill health and I'm just worried about the general populace."
Court documents allege police started a strike force back in May to investigate Mr Seddon after he went to a Wollongong pub, south of Sydney, on April 29 and allegedly expressed his "sexual frustration".
"At my age I can't seem to find any sexual partners that are gay and want to have intercourse with me. So that's why I like to have sex with younger boys," Mr Seddon allegedly told a witness.
Mr Seddon also allegedly told the witness he "wouldn't get along with Boy George because he legally gets to be around kids and touch them and help them", court documents read.
"I want to help kids, not hurt them. I don't want to go to jail. You would think as a gay man that jail would be a good place because I would get a lot of sexual activity. I want it to be consensual. I want to be in control," Mr Seddon allegedly said.
Over the past 20 years, police allege Mr Seddon regularly travelled to Thailand and the Philippines, describing him as "well-connected" and a "frequent traveller to high risk ports for child exploitation".
Police also alleged Mr Seddon recently contacted a computer company and asked them how to use the dark web.
Mr Seddon had also allegedly been using YouTube Kids and had searched for "young boy gay porn" before his arrest.
Police allege they also uncovered an "enormous amount of gay pornography" ranging from children to adults.
"Based on the pornography viewed, the accused has a preference for jail scene encounters…sexual torture," court documents read.
Earlier this week, after Mr Seddon's arrest, police went through the 78-year-old's home.
Inside, they allegedly found an "authentic" Philippine passport with Mr Seddon's face on it as well as a Philippine driver's license.
Mr Seddon also allegedly had books titled Scram: Relocating Under a New Identity and How to Create a New Identity and Disappear: Doing It The Right Way.
When questioned by police about why he allegedly had the books and false identification, and why he'd been researching the dark web, Mr Seddon told them it was all research for a script he was writing.
Mr Seddon was unable to explain why he allegedly had child abuse material on his computer, court documents stated.
Police allege Mr Seddon had befriended a woman in the Philippines with two boys aged six and eight, who he often gave gifts to and provided for.
Mr Seddon has frequently travelled to 'high risk' child exploitation destinations, police allege. Photo / Supplied
Court documents state police "suspect" Mr Seddon planned to "abscond to the Philippines indefinitely" before his arrest.
Police also allege they found Viagra at Mr Seddon's home during their search earlier this week. Police allege the drug was unlawfully obtained.
Police opposed bail today, describing Mr Seddon as an "extreme flight risk" and a danger to the community.
Despite having no criminal history, the prosecution told the court Mr Seddon had already failed to appear in court once and was in possession of false passports and documentation.
"Police have documentation which shows payments to the Philippines for unknown reasons. Police consider the accused to be an extreme flight risk should he be released and base this assertion on his unlimited ability to gain access to replacement forms of false identification documents. These documents are of a quality that require contact to be made with the relevant authorities," court documents read.
Australian Federal Police seized a fake Tennessee driver's license on July 1, allegedly with Mr Seddon's face on it.
Police also said Mr Seddon was "extremely evasive" when asked by officers where he would be living once his lease expired in August.
Prosecution also had fears Mr Seddon would interfere with witnesses or evidence before his case was properly heard.
In opposing bail, Magistrate Michael Stoddart said the charges were "very serious".
Magistrate Stoddart said the prosecution had a "strong case" considering all of Mr Seddon's alleged crimes were on his computer.
"Quite frankly, I can't have any confidence if granted bail, he would appear in court to face charges…Therefore his application to be bailed is refused," he said.
