Pair charged over explicit photos of councillor

A MISSION Beach husband and wife are facing multiple charges after allegedly sharing explicit photographs of a Cassowary Coast councillor.

Steven and Julianne Toogood faced Innisfail Magistrates Court on Monday charged jointly with unlawful stalking and distributing prohibited visual recordings.

Mrs Toogood is also charged with two counts of assaulting or obstructing police.

Police prosecutors told the court the charges related to the distribution of ex- plicit images of former Cassowary Coast deputy mayor, now councillor Rick Taylor.

Derek Perkins of Queensland Lawyers, acting for Mrs Toogood, applied for an adjournment for case conferencing.

The pair remain under strict bail conditions to not contact Cr Taylor or his family, not to contact staff of Cassowary Coast Regional Council in regards to Cr Taylor and not to use the internet to communicate with, publish pictures of or make comments about Cr Taylor with anyone other than investigative bodies.

Magistrate Cathy McLennan said the bail conditions were unusual, and she made minor amendments to ensure they were very clear to all parties.

Mr Toogood, who chose to represent himself, told the magistrate there were two current investigations by the Queensland Ombudsman and by the Office of Information commissioner.

Outside court, Cassowary Coast Regional Council denied any such investigation. The Queensland Ombudsman said it was unable to confirm whether an investigation was under way.

The case was adjourned until July 31.