The court matter of former NRL star Brett Finch has been delayed after he allegedly used a gay sex hotline to discuss and share child abuse material.
Mr Finch, 40, was not required to appear at Sutherland Local Court as his matter was briefly mentioned on Thursday morning.
Lawyers for the former in-demand star requested via email that Mr Finch’s matter be adjourned for prosecutors to file a charge certificate and confirm his charges.
The court matters have also been moved from Sutherland Local Court to Downing Centre in Sydney’s CBD.
Mr Finch was arrestedxjmtzyw in December and charged with five counts of using a carriage service to transmit, publish or promote child abuse material.
He was released on strict conditional bail.
The former star was one of eight men, aged between 34 and 71, charged.
Police will allege in court that Mr Finch called the hotline twice in November 2020, twice in December 2020 and once in January 2021.
Most calls allegedly occurred in the early hours of the morning between midnight and 5am.
The ongoing NSW Police child abuse and sex crimes squad investigation is concentrated on alleged transmission of child abuse material through an adult telephone chat service.
Police allege an adult telephone chat service was used by up to eight men to allegedly arrange the dissemination of child abuse material and discuss the sexual abuse of children.
Each of the men expressed desires to engage in sexual activity with children and in some cases attempted to access child abuse material from other users of the service, police allege.
“Producing, disseminating or possessing child abuse material are serious offences,” police said in a statement at the time.
His lawyer has indicated Mr Finch will fight the charges, with the matter being adjourned to April 26.
Mr Finch’s shock arrest came one week after he opened up about alcohol and drug addiction issues that have plagued his post-playing career.
The 40-year-old represented the Canberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm throughout a stellar career. He scored 66 tries in 270 NRL games.
Mr Finch moved into the media after he stopped playing and his popularity soared.
He checked himself into a mental health facility in 2019 and has since said he hit “rock bottom” in 2016 after he was stood down by Channel 9.
