Man accused of writing and selling child abuse books on Amazon

A 60-year-old man from Newcastle, New South Wales, has been charged with six offenses related to the production and distribution of child abuse material after allegedly selling two books on Amazon, according to a New South Wales bail court hearing on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The accused, Steven Andrew Larkins, faces allegations of creating content involving underage males and distributing it through a global online platform. The court session revealed that Larkins reportedly sold three to four copies of the books on Amazon, which he claimed were based on real-life experiences involving individuals aged 16. Larkins, who previously served a full-time sentence for aggravated indecent assault, admitted to police during the proceedings. His defense lawyer, Sara McCarley, argued that he currently acts as a primary caregiver for his father suffering from dementia and that no other family member is capable of providing care. Despite these claims, the prosecution maintained that the risk posed by Larkins to the community was unacceptable and urged against granting bail. During the hearing, Judge James Viney expressed concern over the lack of oversight by Amazon regarding the sale of such materials. He questioned whether the company could be held criminally responsible for allowing the books to remain available for purchase. However, the police prosecutor, Patrick Sinclair, stated that efforts were underway to contact Amazon and request the removal of the titles from its catalog. No official response from Amazon was received prior to the hearing. Conditions of bail included weekly reporting to police, a ban on contacting anyone under the age of 18, and restrictions on using online platforms for publishing content. Additionally, Larkins is required to surrender his mobile phone and provide both the SIM card details and the phone’s PIN code to authorities. These measures aim to limit his ability to engage in further misconduct or distribute additional harmful material. The court was informed that Larkins wrote about interactions with 16-year-old boys, believing this to be lawful given the minimum age of consent in New South Wales. This belief, however, does not absolve him of responsibility for the nature of the content he produced. Prosecutors emphasized that Larkins had a history of inappropriate behavior and continued to pose a threat to society. The case will resume in court next week, pending further developments. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, particularly regarding the effectiveness of measures taken to prevent future harm. Until then, Larkins remains under supervision and restricted from engaging in activities that could endanger others.