Simon David Lince: Welfare concerns for man who failed to appear in court on child exploitation charges

A man who failed to appear in court over allegations he had sexual conversations with a child is the subject of a major missing person search as WA Police raise concerns for his welfare.

Simon David Lince, 40, was last seen on Elanora Drive in Rockingham about 2.40pm on Thursday. Police said he has not been heard from since 3.30pm that day.

In a statement posted to social media on Friday, Rockingham Police said Mr Lince was last seen wearing grey and white coloured shorts, a dark coloured t-shirt and black shoes. He was also wearing a backpack.

“He is described as approximately 190cm tall, of slim build, with brown eyes, short dark brown hair, a goatee and fair complexion,” they said.

WA Police hold concerns for the Mr Lince’s welfare and urge anyone who sees him to contact police immediately on 131 444.

The West Australian understands Mr Lince was due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday on charges which stemmed from an Australian Federal Police child abuse investigation.

An AFP spokesperson said a tip-off was received in July by the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation which reported a user on an instant messaging platform allegedly having “sexualised communications with someone they believed to be a 12-year-old girl”.

It is understood the girl he is accused of communicating with between June and July was not actually a kid, but instead an undercover police officer.

A search warrant was executed at a home in Cooloongup on October 6 where Mr Lince was arrested. He was released from custody on conditional bail ahead of his first scheduled court appearance on Friday.

A warrant for his arrest was issued after he failed to appear in court on two charges, including engaging in sexual activity with a child using a carriage service.

It is understood several State Emergency Service personnel have been deployed to help search the area near where Mr Lince was last seen.