Perth School Teacher Charged over Child Exploitation Material

By Phil Hickey
WA Today
March 1, 2017

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/school-teacher-charged-over-child-exploitation-material-20170301-guoiga.html

A Catholic school teacher from Perth has been charged with online child exploitation offences after police carried out a warrant at his home this week.

Detectives from the Child Abuse Squad executed a search warrant at the man's Tuart Hill home on Monday.

They seized several electronic storage devices belonging to the man.

A preliminary analysis of the devices has allegedly identified over 1000 images and videos containing child exploitation material.

The 29-year-old man has been charged with possessing child exploitation material, distributing child exploitation material and intent to expose a person believed to be under 13 to indecent matter.

He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on March 21.

Police have said the man is employed as a teacher at a Catholic primary school in Perth.

In a statement released to the media, Catholic Education Western Australia said the teacher was stood down immediately following notification from police.

"As the care and wellbeing of students is the school's highest priority, the school is working to provide support to students, staff and families," the statement said.