A renowned children’s author accused of possessing and sharing child abuse material has had his bail conditions downgraded, after complaining in court about media attention.
Craig Silvey, 43, appeared in Fremantle Magistrate’s Court on Friday, just weeks after police raided his home and allegedly found him ‘actively engaging’ with child abusers online.
Court documents allege 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’.
On Friday, The West Australian reported awkward scenes as Silvey arrived at court and struggled to parallel park, battled with the ticket machine, before bristling past reporters.
In court, Magistrate Thomas Hall granted Silvey’s request to only report to Fremantle Police Station twice a week, rather than three times a week.
Restrictions on his internet access were also relaxed, giving him access to social media in order to disable his social media profiles – which now harbours a number of unfavourable comments.
However, the magistrate rejected a request for Silvey to have his phone back in order to delete the negative comments, telling the celebrated writer: ‘You don’t need to go in to tidy it up.’
Mr Hall further rejected complaints by Silvey’s lawyer about a media presence outside his mother’s house, where he currently resides.
Craig Silvey (pictured) struggled to park his car outside court on Friday
Craig Silvey (pictured in Fremantle) has made a successful bid to have his bail conditions downgraded
Craig Silvey allegedly used the alias ‘Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy’ to chat with other paedophiles on adult sites (pictured, a mock-up of the alleged text messages)
The magistrate said media organisations had a right to do that within the law.
‘That’s just an unfortunate consequence of his profile,’ he said.
‘It’s just a side effect.
‘The object was not to humiliate him.’
The police prosecutor said the biggest concern was that granting a phone with internet access posed a ‘ongoing offending’ risk.
Mr Hall said: ‘That objective can be satisfied by allowing him to have a phone but not allowing him to have encrypted communications’.
Last week, Silvey refused to say whether he would defend the charges against him, when confronted by the Daily Mail.
Charges include one count each of possessing and sharing child exploitation material.
Craig Silvey (pictured with his wife) has been charged with possessing and sharing child abuse material
Craig Silvey is the author of renowned children’s books, Jasper Jones and Runt
It marked the first time Silvey had been seen in public since January 12, when police raided the home he shared with his wife and three young daughters, and allegedly found him ‘actively engaging’ with child abusers online.
He faced Fremantle Magistrate’s Court the following day and was granted bail with both a $100,000 surety and a $100,000 personal undertaking.
Silvey was initially unable to meet the bail requirements, but has since managed to secure the funds.
The celebrated writer cannot leave WA or engage in any work involving children, per his bail conditions.
He will appear in court again on March 16.
WA’s education department distanced itself from the author by pulling his books from the state curriculum.
Two of Silvey’s best known novels, Jasper Jones and Rhubarb, are on the WA school curriculum as suggested texts that could be studied by Year 11 and 12 students.
Education Minister Sabine Winter confirmed Silvey’s best-selling titles would be removed.
Craig Silvey was to publish another instalment of the Runt series (pictured) in November
‘The nature of these allegations is deeply concerning,’ the minister said in a statement soon after the author faced court.
‘I have asked the Department of Education to ensure that schools cease using texts by Craig Silvey for the 2026 school year while the allegations are under investigation.’
The NSW education department said it would also stop using Silvey’s books.