Brian Ronald Bawden’s identity can now be revealed after Magistrate Roger Prowse lifted a suppression order on the case which has been in place since he first fronted court in September.

The 59-year-old was charged by Oxley detectives in July after a phone, two flash drives and a hard drive were seized from his Quirindi home and found to contain child pornographic material.

Bawden pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child abuse material when police raided his home on June 19, last year.

According to court documents, Bawden “denied any knowledge or involvement with child pornographic material” when police raided his home.

Sexually explicit images involving children were found in an initial analysis before a further analysis was conducted, taking some time police said. In total, 255 images were found and two videos.

Following the guilty plea, the Commonwealth DPP dropped a charge of using a carriage service to access child pornography, and immediately applied to have Bawden’s bail revoked.

“It’s a very serious charge that, not in this jurisdiction, but still carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment,” prosecutor Rob Baillie said.

But solicitor Ben Curnow said his client had “no similar prior offences”, “has a limited history” and had a mortgage.

“He has strong community ties,” he said, adding he had worked for a local transport company for six years.

Mr Curnow said Bawden could offer $500 surety, surrender his passport and report to police to address bail concerns of endangering the safety of the community and committing a further serious offence.

Mr Prowse said “there is a large number” of images and the “material moved through most of the categories”.

“There’s an inevitable jail sentence,” he said, adding “the conditions offered between now and [sentencing]” do not address the unacceptable risk. 

He revoked bail ahead of sentencing next year.