A Co Armagh man who is accused of a litany of charges relating to indecent images of children will face Crown Court proceedings next month.
The 34-year-old appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court for the purposes of a preliminary enquiry (PE), the legal process during which a case is referred to the higher court.
Paul Stevenson, of Derryloste Road in Derrytrasna, is charged with 15 counts of making indecent photographs, possession of a prohibited image of a child, possessing an extreme pornographic image and two counts of possessing an indecent photograph.
As the charges were read, it was heard that these offences were alleged to have been committed by the defendant on various dates between January 9, 2007, and August 5, 2020.
Appearing via videolink from his solicitor’s office, Stevenson made no objection to the holding of a preliminary enquiry.
Prosecution submitted that based on the papers before the court there was a prima facie case to answer.
Defence counsel made no contrary submissions.
District Judge Bernie Kelly, satisfied there was a prima facie case to answer, released the defendant on his own bail of £1,000 to appear at Craigavon Crown Court on March 8.
It is a condition of Stevenson’s bail that he has no access to any device which has access to the internet.
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