Pregnant college employee ‘discovered with photographs of younger child being sexually assaulted’
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Police say Lucy Ray McKenzie allegedly had images of the sexual assault of a baby aged under 12 months on her phone when they confiscated it
Lucy Ray McKenzie, 35, has been freed on bail weeks before she is due to give birth(Image: NSW Police)
A school worker who is about to give birth to her baby after being charged with child abuse offences has walked out of custody. She is accused of having images on her phone of the sexual assault of a baby aged under 12 months.
A judge had previously raised concerns about Lucy Ray McKenzie, 35, having contact with her newborn – despite this, she has now been bailed.
McKenzie, who has been suspended from her job as a receptionist at Gilgandra Public School, was living with her husband and his stepdaughter when she was arrested at their home last month.
She is accused of having images on her phone of the sexual assault of a baby aged under 12 months(Image: Facebook)
Officials said McKenzie twice tried to stop officers trying to confiscate her mobile phone during the arrest.
However, she was later 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.
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, reports Mail. Police said they linked abuse material activity to an IP address which allegedly belonged to the former teacher.
McKenzie is alleged have had images on her phone of the sexual assault of a baby aged under 12 months.
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 is also on home detention and not allowed to leave unless in the company of an approved person, to attend court, meetings with legal representatives or get emergency medical treatment.
Having a mobile phone or any device with internet access is also prohibited.
McKenzie is also charged with hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.
She will face Gilgandra Local Court on September 7, which is around the time she is due to give birth.
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