Advertisement

Banned from schools: Strict bail conditions set for McCormack over child porn charges

Disgraced A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack has been ordered to stay away from schools and playgrounds under a series of strict bail conditions.

McCormack is accused of sending child pornography and engaging in explicit conversations about children with another man online.

A 25-year veteran of the Nine network, McCormack has been ordered not to communicate with anyone under the age of 16-years-old after he was released from Sydney’s Redfern Police station on Thursday, the Daily Mail reports.

The conditions also order him to stay away from any location frequented by children, including video arcades, sporting venues and quite likely his the North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club where McCormack volunteers.

A Current Affair didn't shy away from the scandal on Thursday night either.

Ben McCormack pictured leaving Sydney's Redfern Police Station on Tuesday night. Photo: AAP
Ben McCormack pictured leaving Sydney's Redfern Police Station on Tuesday night. Photo: AAP

"A Current Affair has a long history in pursuing offenders in these types of cases and we intend to cover this story without fear or favour,” the program announced following McCormack’s public arrest outside the SCG on Thursday.

Just like he had done in the past, his media peers swarmed when he was taken into Redfern Police Station.

Hours earlier, detectives arrived at Channel Nine in Willoughby, armed with search warrants.

Given the serious nature of the allegations, Nine has taken a strong position and immediately suspended Ben McCormack.

It was a high profile arrest for Strike Force Trawler, a NSW Police unit that goes undercover to detect child groomers on the Internet.

McCormack faces up to 15 years in jail if found guilty. Source: Facebook
McCormack faces up to 15 years in jail if found guilty. Source: Facebook

Speaking with News Corp, an unnamed former colleague described McCormack as a "Peter Pan" who never wanted to grow up with an attraction to "baby-faced" men.

"He's always on Grindr and having dates with young-looking men. He was a bit of a Peter Pan, didn’t want to get old," said the source who declined to be named.

The former colleague told the News Corp McCormack "would often show photos of guys he was seeing and they would always be baby-faced teens but a legal age".

"His life is lifesaving, but he mentors and trains young boys there," the source said.

McCormack has worked for the Nine network for 25 years. Source: Twitter
McCormack has worked for the Nine network for 25 years. Source: Twitter

Today's top news stories - April 7