- Joshua John Potter, 26, was arrested last year
- He has pleaded guilty to one charge but will fight two others
A young former NSW police officer has admitted to possessing child abuse material but will fight other charges in the case.
Joshua Potter, 26, was arrested at Campbelltown Police Station in September last year and charged with possess/control child abuse material-use carriage service.
Police later laid two additional charges – using a carriage service to procure sexual activity from someone 16 years or younger and transmitting child abuse material to himself via a carriage service – against Potter in March this year.
He was suspended with pay while NSW Police reviewed his employment, and resigned from the Force in July.
Potter appeared in the Campbelltown District Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse material using a carriage service.
According to court documents relating to that charge, Potter possessed the child abuse material on a computer and data storage device from May 2023 until July 30, 2024 at his Glen Alpine home.
Potter also pleaded not guilty to the two most recent charges. Those matters will now proceed to trial next year.
Potter’s arrest followed a months-long investigation by police.
Joshua John Potter, 26, is pictured with his mother attending his lawyers office, Marsdens, in Campbelltown, in September last year
Potter has pleaded guilty to one charge but will fight an additional two charges
Potter, who is from the Campbelltown area, worked as a constable for the South West Metropolitan Region after graduating from St Gregory’s College in 2016.
Officers from the Professional Standards Command launched an investigation in June 2024 after receiving reports a cop allegedly possessed child abuse material.
After his arrest, Potter was granted bail which had several strict conditions, including to live in Glen Alpine, only possess one mobile phone, and not access any form of social media.
He is also banned from actively seeking or remaining in the company of anyone under the age of 18, and attempting to communicate or communicating with any person under the age of 18 except if engaging in essential transactions or services, such as retail.
When approached by the Daily Mail about his case in September last year, Potter said: ‘I have nothing to say’.
In NSW, the maximum penalty for possession of child abuse material is 10 years’ imprisonment.
All three of Potter’s matters will be heard at the Campbelltown District Court on August 17, 2026.
