In a 25-year career, A Current Affair's Ben McCormack built a reputation as a textbook tabloid reporter, doggedly chasing down suspected welfare cheats and tax dodgers and busting rip-off retailers.
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Regarded as one of the Nine Network show's most senior journalists, he tracked down former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes in Singapore and led its investigation of child abuse allegations against the former actor.
McCormack went on air to describe Hughes' acts as "horrific" and "disturbing" when the actor was finally convicted on 10 charges relating to sexual and indecent acts against four young girls dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.
But on Thursday, the cameras were flipped on McCormack, 42, when he became the highest profile arrest yet of a NSW Police taskforce that uses undercover stings to catch alleged online predators.
McCormack was stopped by Sex Crime Squad detectives at 7.30am on Thursday on Driver Avenue at Moore Park, just outside Sydney's CBD, as he drove to work at Nine's headquarters in Sydney's north.
He was arrested and taken to Redfern police station where he was later charged with using a carriage service to send child pornography material and engaging in explicit conversations about children with another man online.
A search warrant was executed at his apartment in Alexandria, in the city's inner south, and at the office of A Current Affair at Channel Nine's headquarters in Willoughby on Sydney's north shore.
The program's staff were asked to leave the premises while officers searched for evidence.
Police said they seized computers, a mobile phone and electronic devices.
McCormack's arrest was captured on video by NSW Police and then a large media pack awaited him as he left Redfern police station on bail on Thursday night.
Details of his arrest led the 6pm news bulletin of his employer of more than two decades.
Stand-in A Current Affair host Leila McKinnon started Thursday night's show saying the program intended to cover the story of McCormack's arrest "without fear or favour".
It was also revealed that McCormack had been suspended by the network immediately.
"Tonight one of our most senior reporters is facing serious charges involving child pornography offences," McKinnon said.
"And while justice must take its course, and given the serious nature of the allegations, Nine has taken a strong position and immediately suspended Ben McCormack.
"A short time ago, McCormack was released from police custody. A Current Affair has a long history of pursuing offenders in these type of cases, and we intend to cover this story without fear or favour."
Earlier, a Nine Network spokesman said A Current Affair staff were co-operating fully with the investigation.
"The matter is a personal one and not related to a story or the program," the spokesman said.
McCormack is due to appear in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on May 1.
He has retained the services of high profile solicitor Sam Macedone, who regularly appears on A Current Affair, where he is often seen commenting on legal matters.
Mr Macedone describes himself on Twitter as a "regular" on A Current Affair, Today and Today Extra, all Channel Nine programs.
The police investigation into McCormack followed a tip-off from the Joint Anti Child Exploitation team - a joint-agency taskforce that cracks down on crimes against children.
His arrest and charging was part of Strike Force Trawler, a police operation that is using undercover stings to catch alleged online predators.
The strike force has arrested almost one person a week this year, with many more cases passed to local police.
Those arrested have been diverse: from teenagers to 70-year-olds, school teachers, fathers, Defence Force members, priests, police academy students and aspiring politicians.
with Georgina Mitchell
