Man, 22, in court accused of child sex offences

A 22-year-old man has appeared in court charged with a number of online child sex offences.

The charges include sexual communication with children and blackmail.

Cameron Mullen, of Claragh Hill Drive, Kilrea, appeared at Dungannon Magistrates' Court on Saturday, via video link from Antrim custody suite.

An application for bail was made but was refused by a judge on the grounds that he considered the defendant "extremely dangerous".

The police arrested Mr Mullen on suspicion of a number of online child sex offences in Toome on Friday.

The alleged offences relate to two separate child victims.

Speaking at Dungannon Magistrates' Court, on Saturday, police said they could connect the defendant to the charges.

Charges heard included intentionally communicating with a person under 16 with the communication being sexual, possessing an indecent photograph of a child, inciting a child under 18 years to engage in a sexual activity and making an unwarranted demand of money from a child.

Mr Mullen spoke only to confirm his name, his date of birth and that he understood the charges.

The court heard that the police had received a report from the mother of a boy who had been contacted by the defendant and had been sent sexual messages.

The court also heard that police were subsequently contacted by the mother of another boy that he had been sent sexually explicit images by the defendant.

While acknowledging that it was a "very serious" matter, a defence solicitor made an application for bail.

The solicitor pointed out that the Mr Mullen had provided his phone to police with the relevant passcodes and that there was no issue finding a bail address.

Police opposed the bail stating that he was a risk to public safety, particularly for "young vulnerable members of society".

Police added that if granted bail, they believed the defendant would likely commit further offences by using the internet to contact children.

The judge said that Mr Mullen was not a suitable candidate for bail as the matters raised were "potentially devastatingly damaging for young people".

He, therefore, rejected bail and added that "somebody like this is not fit to walk around with the rest of us, quite frankly".

The case is due to be heard again at Dungannon Court on 22 January.