Renowned children’s author Craig Silvey has pleaded guilty to child exploitation offences.
The children’s author, 43 – best known for writing national hits Jasper Jones and Runt – appeared in Fremantle Magistrate’s Court, WA, on Tuesday and confessed to one count each of possessing and distributing child exploitation material.
Two additional charges of possessing and producing child exploitation material were dismissed.
When asked by Magistrate Thomas Hall how he would like to plead, Silvey said: ‘Guilty, your honour.’
The offences involve photographs and took place between January 7 and 9.
Prosecutors previously said Silvey, who has three young daughters, took photos of himself inside his home office.
Police raided the home he shared with his wife and three young daughters in January and found him ‘actively engaging’ with child abusers online.
Court documents say he chatted with other paedophiles on adult sites using the alias ‘Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy’, telling them he was a ‘Fremantle guy’ with ‘very similar interests’.
Silvey’s hits include Jasper Jones, Honeybee and Runt. Many booksellers have pulled his novels from the shelves in the wake of the allegations
Silvey initially refused to cooperate with police and would not let police access his phone and laptop.
More to come
