Australian author pleads guilty over child exploitation material

A gavel sits on a desk in Ottawa, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Australian children’s author Craig Silvey pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges of distributing and possessing child exploitation material, a Perth court official said.

The author of novels including “Runt”, “Jasper Jones” and the “Amber Amulet” was arrested in January.

A court spokesperson said on Tuesday prosecutors had dropped charges of producing and possessing child exploitation material.

Silvey pleaded guilty to the two remaining charges of distributing and possessing material, the spokesperson said.

His bail was extended as he awaits sentencing.

“Jasper Jones”, published in 2009, was shortlisted for or won several international awards for young adult literature.

It was turned into a movie released in 2017 starring Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving.