A self-described 'investigative journalist' accused of playing a leading role in a global satanic child abuse ring has been granted bail.
Landon Ashton Versace Germanotta-Mills, 27, was the alleged ringleader of a Sydney-based paedophile network that traded shocking child abuse material.
Germanotta-Mills has been remanded in custody since his arrest in November with police alleging members of the ring shared thousands of 'abhorrent' images and videos depicting babies up to children aged up to 12.
He was charged with child abuse offences including seven counts of using a carriage service to make child abuse, using a carriage service to access child abuse material, and three counts of possessing child abuse material using a carriage service.
Further charges include two counts of disseminating bestiality material and possessing bestiality material.
While appearing before the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday via video link from the South Coast Correctional Centre, Germanotta-Mills applied to be released on bail to live with his mother in the regional NSW town of Wellington.
Despite prosecutors expressing concerns about his release, Justice Belinda Rigg granted Germanotta-Mills bail, saying the risks could be managed.
Germanotta-Mills will be subject to several bail conditions including home detention (with no child visitors), daily police reporting, drug and alcohol abstention, not contacting witnesses, and a total phone and internet ban.
Landon Germanotta-Mills has been granted bail to live in a regional NSW town, five months after he was arrested over sick child abuse allegations
Police allege the 27-year-old played a leading role in a paedophile network, which traded shocking abuse material depicting babies up to children aged up to 12
The self-described 'independent investigative journalist' was in a matching zebra print outfit and covered his face with a blue beanie when he was arrested in November
He was also ordered to surrender his passport.
Germanotta-Mills founded the Underground Media Network - an outlet described as an 'independent Australian investigative journalism platform committed to exposing institutional failures and the misuse of power'.
According to the Underground Media Network's website, the outlet investigates issues including police corruption and child protection.
Three other men were also arrested at a unit block in Malabar in November and charged over their alleged involvement in the paedophile network.
Germanotta-Mills and his co-accused have not yet entered pleas.
His matter will return to Wellington Local Court on May 27.
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