Prominent uni professor, 62, is accused of grooming an 11-year-old and sharing vile child abuse material online: ‘We’re boyfriend and girlfriend’
- Illustrious Perth academic is accused of grooming 11-year-old girl
- Professor Philip Newsholme allegedly procured explicit videos
- Police allegedly found child abuse images and videos at his home
A distinguished university professor allegedly groomed an 11-year-old girl for a month and used social media to procure children to send him explicit videos.
Professor Philip Newsholme, 62, who is a biomedical sciences academic at Curtin University in Perth allegedly told the young girl they were ‘boyfriend and girlfriend,’ the West Australian reported.
He was arrested and charged after detectives from a WA child exploitation operations unit were tipped off through CrimeStoppers on Thursday.
Police alleged he had been talking with several children via SnapChat and Telegram after a raid on his home.
Officers allegedly found several digital devices including laptops and desktop computers at his Como residence where he lives alone.
Professor Philip Newsholme (pictured), 62, who is a biomedical sciences academic at Curtin University in Perth allegedly told an 11-year-old girl they were ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’
Detectives from the Child Exploitation Operations Squad identified three children allegedly involved who are believed to live in the UK, US and Australia, police said
Category one and two child abuse images and videos were also allegedly found on storage devices.
He has been charged with 12 child exploitation offences but a bail application at the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday heard he might be hit with an extra 50 charges.
Newsholme allegedly used encrypted messaging services and social media apps to try and get young girls to send him explicit videos.
Detectives from the Child Exploitation Operations Squad identified three children allegedly involved who are believed to live in the UK, US and Australia, police said.
The academic is also accused of swapping child abuse material with other associates – revealing to one person he ‘really likes little girls aged between five and 12’.
The police prosecutor told the court Newsholme had sent a girl he believed was under 16 a nude photo of himself – which was connected to the tip-off officers received.
He also had been chatting to an 11-year-old girl for a month where he told her they were ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’ and that he loved her, the court heard.
His office at the Curtin University campus was also raided on Friday afternoon so police could seize his computer and other devices.
A duty lawyer who was applying for bail for Newsholme told the court there would be a significant delay before the case went to trial – adding the professor had no criminal record and would follow any conditions.
But Magistrate Andrew Maughan refused to give him bail because of the devices found in his home and because Newsholme had only made a partial admission to police.
His office at the Curtin University campus (pictured) was also raided on Friday afternoon so police could seize his computer and other devices
The professor faces eight counts of possess child exploitation material and three counts of distribute child exploitation material.
He was also charged with one count of using electronic communications to expose a child believed to be under 16 years to indecent matter.
Detectives said officers will review the seized devices and liaise with national and international law enforcement partners to identify and rescue any further child victims.
Newsholme, who has a PHD from Oxford University, has also worked in the US, UK and Ireland.
A media spokeswoman from Curtin University would not comment ‘as the matter is before the courts’.