Man intercepted by Australian Federal Police allegedly importing child-like dolls denied bail

An Adelaide man accused of importing and producing child-like dolls at his Elizabeth Downs family home has been denied bail.

Geoffrey Mew, 41, was arrested in August this year after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) intercepted child-like silicon dolls allegedly being sent to his home address.

The intercept triggered a search by both South Australian Police and the AFP which led to the alleged discovery of small silicon shaped doll parts, moulds, firearms, child exploitation material and methamphetamine.

The prosecutor argued against Mr Mew’s application for bail given the serious nature of his charges.

“We do have a strong case against the defendant,” she said.

The prosecutor told the state’s magistrates court that police allegedly found silicon products that the ABC has chosen not to detail, a plastic mould in the size and shape of a child’s torso and another object believed to be mid-way through production of a child-like sex doll.

She added several firearms, ammunition, 2 grams of methamphetamine, electronic scales and cash were also allegedly found at Mr Mew’s address.

Mr Mew’s lawyer Casey Isaacs argued his client should be given bail given his trial is likely to start in 2025, saying Mr Mew would be spending a “significant time in custody”.

The defence lawyer added the prosecution would find it difficult to prove the dolls were “child-like”.

“There’s going to be significant difficulties in reaching a case to answer in respect to those matters, [where] there’s alleged to be silicon dolls 115cm [in height] — with no other defining features,” Mr Isaacs said.

The court heard Mr Mew had the support of his wife and a friend who offered to be guarantors if he were released.

One supporter audibly expressed disappointment in court when Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal denied Mr Mew bail on the grounds of the serious nature of the charges he was facing.

The supporter who had volunteered to be Mr Mew’s guarantor told media outside court the charges were “bullsh*t” and reiterated that the dolls had “no defining features”.