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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Alex Crowe

Man charged with grooming 15-year old granted bail

A man charged with using a device to groom an under-aged girl has been granted bail.

The 32-year-old Theodore man's name was suppressed to protect the identity of the victim.

Police allege the man used Instagram to foster an online relationship with a 15-year-old girl which progressed to physical contact.

The man is alleged to have requested sex acts and photographs from the under-aged girl in exchange for alcohol.

Court documents said police made contact with the man through Instagram, where they posed as a 14-year-old seeking alcohol for school camp.

The man was arrested on Friday May 8, after search warrants were executed at his address in Theodore where a number of electronic devices were seized.

The Magistrates Court heard on Saturday that several people were yet to be interviewed and more evidence was expected to emerge.

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said the man had a limited criminal history, which included minor traffic offences.

The man was granted bail to appear before the court in June.

As part of his bail conditions, the man is allowed a mobile phone but the phone's passcode must be surrendered to police.

"While I recognise the concern put forward by the prosecution about the likelihood of interference with and the safety of witnesses," Ms Walker said.

"He is a person of very limited criminal history and he is one who will be acutely aware of the seriousness of the charges that he is now facing and the fact that he is clearly under police surveillance," she said.

Picture: Karleen Minney
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