AN ARMIDALE man has had his bail continued after fronting court accused of grooming a teenager for sex.
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Patrick Clifton B Worthing appeared in Armidale Local Court on Monday but was not required to enter a plea to the charge of using a carriage service to groom a child under 16 for sex.
Magistrate Mark Richardson ordered police to compile a brief of evidence and serve it on Worthing’s solicitor before the case returns to court in March.
The 45-year-old was charged by Strike Force Trawler detectives from the Child Exploitation Internet Unit after undercover officers began speaking with him in November.
Police claim Worthing thought he was speaking to a 13-year-old and allege he made numerous sexually explicit comments.
Following investigations, detectives in conjunction with New England police raided an Armidale home and seized a laptop, two tablet devices, a mobile, electronic storage devices and two cameras.
Worthing was granted conditional bail by police after he was arrested in Chippendale in Sydney.
As part of Worthing’s bail, he must report to police in Armidale everyday and is prohibited from accessing the internet or any social media.
According to court documents, Worthing must not access the internet for any reason besides work and must not actively communicate or engage with children under the age of 16.
He’s also prohibited from visiting areas where young children frequent as well as any international departure point in Australia.