Eric Charles Witchard, 69, of Oxley Hwy, appeared via audio-visual link in Port Macquarie Local Court charged with 14 offences.

Solicitor Steven Miles told the court his client, who is in custody, had successfully completed the first phase of the medical procedure, chemical castration, and now hoped to take the next step.

In a bail application, Mr Miles described his client’s condition as “unusual”.

“The defendant was being treated at the hands of a urologist, general practitioner and psychologist in relation to chemical castration,” he said.

“I’m told today by the defendant he had to have a series of blood tests four weeks after the medication and they have indicated that the treatment has been completely effective ... which enables him to move on to physical castration.”

Mr Miles argued the man’s medical treatment was an “extraordinary circumstance” and could not be easily achieved while in custody.

Magistrate Wayne Evans questioned whether the man’s circumstances related to a health issue or “issues that are out of his control”.

Mr Miles said his client’s condition was “not life-threatening” but that it was health-related.

“He’s obviously got a condition that is outside the range of human responses but it’s got to be treated as a health issue,” he said.

“Look at the consequence of the health issue – it’s the 13 or 14 charges before you today.”

The man is charged with six counts of indecent assault with a victim under 10, four counts of aggravated sexual assault with a victim under 16, two counts of incite victim under 10 to commit an indecent act, commit act of indecency with a victim under 10, and use child under 14 for pornographic purposes.

The offences are alleged to have occurred in Port Macquarie between January 2002 and December 2004 and allegedly involve a single victim.

Mr Miles argued the prosecution’s request for a three-month adjournment to allow the State Electronics Evidence branch to examine nine computer hard drives, a lap-top and camera, was unreasonable.

“At this stage he’s not convicted, he’s not sentenced,” Mr Miles said.

The magistrate said the man had been in custody for five weeks and the DPP claimed to have partial admissions from him.

“Let’s not be too subtle about this, if the prosecution proceeds or if the defendant pleads guilty, there’s a strong possibility of a substantial period of incarceration which would be far, far greater than three months,” Mr Evans said.

He described the defendant as a person of “prior excellent character” with no criminal record.

Mr Evans said he saw no reason why the man could not pursue his irreversible medical procedure while in custody.

The matter has been adjourned until August 7.

Bail was refused and no plea entered.