Heavily pregnant Australian mum charged with making child abuse material is released on bail
A heavily pregnant NSW school worker charged with child abuse offences has been freed on bail.
Lucy Ray McKenzie, 35, walked out of custody just weeks before she is due to give birth to her first child, despite a judge previously raising concerns about her having contact with her newborn.
McKenzie, who has been suspended from her job as a receptionist at Gilgandra Public School, was living with her husband and his nine-year-old stepdaughter when she was arrested at their home last month.
Police allege that during her arrest, McKenzie twice tried to hinder officers as they moved to confiscate her mobile phone.
She was charged with four counts of using a carriage service to make available child abuse material, which a court heard related to her alleged use of the Kik messaging and chat app.
Concerned Gilgandra locals said McKenzie was well known under her maiden name, Lucy Scotti, and had worked at a daycare centre in the town before becoming a School Learning Support Officer.
Police allege that they linked child-care abuse material activity to an IP address in Gilgandra which allegedly belonged to McKenzie.
Last month, McKenzie remained stony-faced as the bail judge read out disturbing details of the child abuse material allegedly on her phone.
Lucy Ray McKenzie has been freed on bail just weeks before she is due to give birth to her first child, despite a judge previously raising concerns about her having contact with her newborn
Police arrested the 35-year-old at her family home where, officers allege, she twice tried to prevent them from confiscating her mobile phone
It is alleged detectives later found images on her phone of the sexual assault of a baby aged under 12 months.
As she was bail refused at that point, it was possible that McKenzie would be giving birth while in custody.
But after strict bail conditions were negotiated, Judge Brett Shields was able to release her.
Her bail conditions include include not going within 100m of a school, pre-school or childcare facility, and not to be unaccompanied in the presence of any person aged 16 years or under unless the person is her own child.
McKenzie must also comply with home detention, and is not to leave her approved premises unless in the company of an approved person, to attend court, meetings with legal representatives or get emergency medical treatment.
She is also not allowed a mobile phone or any device with internet access.
McKenzie is also charged with hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.
She is remanded to face Gilgandra Local Court on September 7, which is around the time she is due to give birth.
