Shop owner allegedly caught with 2,500 child abuse files, court hears

An Illawarra homewares store owner, Calvin Gabriel Gorsuch, has been denied bail after being accused of possessing over 2,500 child abuse files. The 27-year-old was arrested following a raid on his Woonona home on Tuesday, where police found the alleged materials on his electronic devices. Gorsuch is charged with two counts of using a carriage service to make available child abuse material and one count of possession.

The court heard that the files included violent content involving young boys, with some videos exceeding five minutes in length.

Gorsuch's defense lawyer, Zali Kelly, argued that family members would be able to manage the store during his absence. However, prosecutors, including Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions solicitor Kate Gauld, were vehement in their opposition to his release. Gauld stated that the case against Gorsuch was strong and that the evidence indicated he had admitted to owning the accounts and using Telegram to send and receive the files.

She emphasized the severity of the allegations, noting that the material depicted violence against very young children.

Gorsuch's lawyer proposed several bail conditions, including restricting his access to encrypted devices and the internet, agreeing to rehabilitation, and undergoing supervision by authorities and his family. She highlighted his lack of prior criminal history, his first-time custody experience, and strong community ties. However, the prosecution argued that supervising Gorsuch around the clock would be challenging, given the potential accessibility of the files from any online device.

Local Court Judge Teres Sia agreed, describing the allegations as extremely serious and refusing Gorsuch's bail application. The matter is set to return to court on December 16.