Craig Silvey: Prominent Fremantle novelist, author of Jasper Jones and Runt charged with child exploitation

Prominent West Australian author Craig Silvey has faced court on charges of distributing child exploitation material and communicating with paedophiles online. The 43-year-old author fronted Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday where police prosecutors told the court Mr Silvey allegedly spoke with another user on an adult website where users can upload and exchange pornographic material on January 7. “Fremantle guy here, you sound amazing, looking gorg too, we have very similar interests, would love to chat more,” he allegedly wrote. The prosecutor said the father-of-three was not cooperating with police and had allegedly refused detectives access to his mobile phone and laptop and pin password. He also said there was evidence which indicated Mr Silvey had allegedly taken photographs of himself inside his home office. The prosecutor opposed bail, saying Mr Silvey was an international author who regularly interacted with children during school book visitations. But Magistrate Thomas Hall granted bail with “very strict” conditions, “despite the seriousness of the alleged offences”. He described the allegations as “very serious” and said Mr Silvey was “likely” facing a term of imprisonment. “In my view, he’s got no record, he’s entitled to legal advice … my view is bail is appropriate,” he said. Bail was originally granted with $100,000 surety and a $100,000 personal undertaking on the conditions he reports to Fremantle Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. But The West Australian understands Mr Silvey has been remanded in custody because his surety could not be signed. Under his original bail conditions, Mr Silvey must surrender his passport and is not permitted carry out any work with children. He is banned from using the internet, unless he is using it to access banking, legal or medical information. He is still allowed supervised visits with his three children. Child Exploitation Operations detectives executed a search warrant at the 43-year-old’s Fremantle home on Monday as part of an investigation into alleged distribution of child exploitation material. Police allege Mr Silvey was actively engaging with other child exploitation offenders online when officers arrived at the property. Mr Silvey was arrested and had his electronic devices seized for forensic examination. He will return to court on February 10. Mr Silvey is best known for his young adult novels Runt, Jasper Jones and Honeybee — set around Perth and Western Australia — and are regularly used as material in the school curriculum. In 2017, Jasper Jones was turned into a film adaptation starring Toni Collette. He has won several awards including Australian Book Industry Awards Book the Year in 2010, Dymocks Book of the Year in 2020 and Book of the Year for Younger Australians in 2023.