A CENTRAL Coast man who allegedly groomed a 14-year-old girl and attempted to meet the teenager for sex was in fact speaking online with detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad, police say.
Jonathon Heath, 38, of Woy Woy, was excused from appearing in Gosford Local Court on Tuesday charged with using a carriage service to groom a child under the age of 16 for sex.
He did not enter a plea and the matter was adjourned until May.
Police said detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit attached to Strike Force Trawler began engaging online with Mr Heath in December last year.
Police allege Heath believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about "acts he wished to perform on the child". "It will be further alleged that the man arranged to meet the girl for the purpose of a sexual encounter," police said in a statement.
Following investigations, strike force detectives arrested Heath at Woy Woy on January 14.
He was granted strict conditional bail on that date and the matter was adjourned until Tuesday, when it was again adjourned until May.
It will be further alleged that the man arranged to meet the girl for the purpose of a sexual encounter.
Police said in a statement.
