A primary school teacher accused of possessing child abuse material has run into a police station when confronted with the allegations against him after he reported on bail.
Matthew David Eagleton was allegedly found with the offensive content on his electronic devices during a police raid on the independent western Sydney school where he worked.
The 54-year-old was arrested at Amity College's Auburn campus about 2pm last Friday and charged with possessing child abuse material and using a carriage service for child abuse material.
The first charge relates to a period from March 2024 until the time of Eagleton's arrest and the second covers from May this year until Friday afternoon, court documents said.
Police had received a report regarding the detection of child abuse material linked to an account holder in Sydney's west the previous day and executed a search warrant at the school.
When approached by the Daily Mail on a street in Sydney's inner-west on Wednesday morning, Eagleton covered his face and ran back inside the police station where he had just reported on bail.
Eagleton, who was wearing a gold band on his wedding ring finger, initially stayed silent when asked whether he would deny the allegations against him, then replied to a series of questions with a string of 'no comments'.
Reporter: 'Mr Eagleton, do you wish to say anything about the charges?'
Eagleton: 'No comment.'
Primary school teacher Matthew Eagleton, who is accused of possessing child abuse material, ran into a police station when confronted with the allegations against him while reporting on bail. He is pictured on Wednesday
Eagleton, pictured outside a Sydney police station on Wednesday, was allegedly found with child abuse material on his electronic devices during a police raid on his school
Reporter: 'Has the school suspended you?'
Eagleton: 'No comment.'
Reporter: 'Do you have children, Mr Eagleton?'
Eagleton: 'No comment.'
Reporter: 'Do you know who's reported you?'
Eagleton: 'No comment.'
The teacher then walked up the road, bought a can of Coke and puffed on a vape, before wandering around the suburb's back streets.
During Friday's raid at Amity College, Sex Crimes Squad detectives seized Eagleton's electronic devices which allegedly contained the child abuse material.
After refusing to comment on the charges, Eagleton walked up the road, bought a can of Coke and puffed on a vape, before wandering around nearby back streets
Eagelton was arrested at Amity College's Auburn campus last Friday (above) and charged with possessing child abuse material and using a carriage service for child abuse material
Police also allegedly found a small amount of cannabis Eagleton's vehicle.
A police spokesperson said on Monday the operation to arrest Eagleton was conducted by members of Strike Force Trawler and investigations were continuing.
Amity College is a non-denominational school with four campuses across Sydney and the Illawarra region, and more than 2,600 students enrolled in classes between kindergarten and Year 12.
A school spokesperson declined to comment when asked whether any children enrolled in the school had been affected by Eagleton's alleged conduct.
The spokesperson also did not respond to a query about whether any assistance would be provided to students, parents and staff.
Eagleton, from Telopea in Sydney's north-west, appeared before court on Saturday, when he was granted bail.
Under his bail conditions, Eagleton is banned from entering any school or centre for children aged under 16 and is required to report to police once a week.
He is not to go near, contact or be in the company of any person aged under 16 except in the company of a nominated person.
Under his bail conditions, Eagleton is banned from entering any school or centre for children aged under 16 and is required to report to police once a week
Eagleton must not use or possess more than one mobile phone, iPad or computer. He was required to provide the password or PIN of any phone to police within 24 hours of taking possession of such a device.
Eagleton must also provide any mobile phone, iPad or computer to a police officer 'on reasonable request', along with access details.
He cannot approach any international point of departure, apply for a passport, or possess any drug unless it is prescribed by a doctor.
Eagleton is listed to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on August 18.
Amity College traces its history to the 1994 formation of the Galaxy Foundation, which was established by a group of individuals from Turkish backgrounds who wanted to make a contribution to the community.
The school opened at Prestons in Sydney's south-west in 1996 as Sule College - Sule means 'light' in Turkish - with 32 children from kindergarten to Year 3.
The college expanded rapidly, opening campuses at Auburn, Leppington in Sydney's south-west and Shellharbour in the Illawarra region.
Amity College is a non-denominational school with four campuses across Sydney and the Illawarra region. The Auburn campus is pictured
It changed its name to Amity College in 2013 to better reflect its multicultural composition and has operated as a separate legal entity under Amity College Australian Limited since 2014.
The Auburn campus caters for boys and girls from kindergarten to Year 6, while the Prestons campus consists of primary students as well as a girls' high school and boys' high school.
Illawarra takes students from kindergarten to Year 12 and is co-educational. Leppington is a recently opened co-educational primary school.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad Child Exploitation internet Unit into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
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