Popular Australian children's author jailed over child exploitation offences
Also reported by Guardian World
Summary
Australian author Craig Silvey was sentenced to seven months in jail for possessing and distributing child exploitation material. He pleaded guilty in May, and the sentence was backdated to 22 October; he is eligible for parole.Key Facts
- Police arrested Silvey in January after raiding his home in Western Australia and seizing electronic devices.
- Silvey, 44, pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child exploitation material in May.
- A judge described his actions as serious and said the abuse depicted in the material causes lasting trauma to children.
- Prosecutors said Silvey’s conduct contributed to the cycle of abuse; his lawyer argued that he had acted to cope with psychological distress.
- Silvey is best known for the novel Jasper Jones and the children’s book Runt, both adapted for film.
- Since his arrest, publishers and bookshops have withdrawn his works, and some schools have removed Jasper Jones from teaching lists.
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