Flight risk raised for defence contractor employee allegedly found with child abuse files

An employee of a government defence contractor has been arrested after Australian Border Force officers allegedly found child abuse material on his devices at the airport.

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Nicholas Tyson Quinn, 42, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, October 16, when he was denied bail.

He is yet to enter pleas to two counts of possessing child abuse material.

In May, the man flew into Sydney on an international flight and was selected for examination by Australian Border Force officers, who allegedly located child exploitation imagery and inappropriate conversations on a messaging app.

Further investigations by border officers allegedly revealed that he had transferred multiple sums of money to a teenager in Europe.

The matter was referred to ACT Policing, and officers searched the man's home in Chisholm on Thursday.

A USB memory device plugged into the man's computer was reviewed, and further child exploitation material was allegedly located.

Applying for bail on the man's behalf on Friday, Legal Aid lawyer Duncan Errey argued strict conditions could mitigate any concerns raised by the prosecution.

Under the proposed conditions, the 42-year-old - who holds dual Australian and Latvian citizenship and works in the payroll department of a defence contractor - would surrender his passports and reside with his mother.

Errey argued there was nothing before the court to suggest Quinn was a flight risk, adding that custody would be particularly onerous for the man due to a "complicated medical background" involving type 1 diabetes and sleep apnoea.

Opposing bail, the prosecution raised concerns about Quinn committing offences in the community or failing to appear in court when required.

The ACT Magistrates Court, where Nicholas Tyson Quinn was denied bail. Picture by Karleen Minney

The prosecutor said Quinn could potentially approach an embassy for a new passport even if he was required to surrender his current travel documents under bail conditions. She argued this increased concerns he was a flight risk.

During the bail application, magistrate Alexandra Burt noted court documents alleged Quinn had been in an "inappropriate" relationship with a woman and her 17-year-old child in Ukraine over a "lengthy period of time".

The prosecutor added that police had spoken to people at Quinn's workplace, where a person reportedly disclosed that Quinn and his mother had previously travelled to Ukraine and had made "attempts to bring his girlfriend home".

The court also heard Quinn had allegedly continued to access child abuse material and contact the teenager in Ukraine after being intercepted at the airport.

Ms Burt acknowledged the prosecution's case was still at an early stage, noting police had not yet identified the children depicted in the alleged materials, which are said to include more than 100 videos or photos.

The magistrate added that police have not yet confirmed whether the 17-year-old girl from Ukraine was depicted in the seized files.

While accepting there was "a degree of speculation" in the prosecution's concerns, she ultimately refused bail, saying she was not satisfied the proposed bail conditions could adequately ameliorate the risks raised in court.

"I am concerned partly because of the persistence of contact after the Australian Border Force intervention, and of the connection with these two people, one of which is a young person in Ukraine, and his dual citizenship," she said.

Police said digital analysis of the seized devices was ongoing and further charges may be laid.

The matter is set to return to court in November.

• Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Canberra Rape Crisis Centre 6247 2525; Women's Legal Centre ACT/Sexual Violence Legal Service 6257 4377; Bravehearts 1800 272 831; Blue Knot Foundation 1300 657 380.

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