Philip Newsholme: Former Curtin University professor sent depraved messages to 11-year-old American girl

The shocking and depraved messages sent by a former Curtin University professor to an 11-year-old American girl he groomed online have been aired in a WA court for the first time. The disturbing exchanges, which included requests for nude selfies and sexual activity, were part of pattern of deplorable behaviour carried out by Philip Newsholme between September 2019 and May 2023. Details of the 64-year-old’s vile offending were revealed during the first part of his sentencing hearing on Friday. The District Court of WA was told the internationally renowned scientist, who received his PhD from Oxford University, used social media apps such as Snapchat and encrypted messaging services like WhatsApp and Telegram to contact five people he believed to be young girls under 16. He also used the messaging services to exchange scores of child abuse images and videos with other unknown offenders online, with the court told he would often tell the other user that he only liked “little girls”. Newsholme’s offending first came to light after he sent a naked video of himself to a person on Snapchat that he believed was a girl under 16 — sparking a tip-off to WA authorities. Police then raided his home and seized eight electronic devices. In total, they found 325 child abuse videos and 5498 images. The former head of biomedical sciences at Curtin had used the university’s printer to print some of those images, the court was told. Police also discovered Newsholme had been chatting with five people he believed were girls aged between 11 and 16, in the UK, Germany, India, Victoria and the US. However, the court was told police were only able to verify one of these as a real child — an 11-year-old girl from the US who originally told the prominent academic she was 13. Newsholme told each of them that he was 22. The court was told in all the conversations, he would tell the girl what he wanted to do to them and would send them sexually explicit content. He also sent some naked pictures and videos of himself. With regards to the American girl, the court was told when she revealed that she was just 11 but would be turning 12 soon, Newsholme told her he was “fine” and “happy” about her age then told her she had to keep their relationship a “secret”. He then asked where she lived, saying he wanted to see her and that she could tell her dad that she was staying at a friend’s house while they were at a hotel. When the girl refused to send a naked picture of herself, he told her he loved her and then asked how much she loved him. He then sent her a sexually explicit photo of himself to her prompting her to say she didn’t want to date him anymore and only wanted someone closer to her age. A few days later, her 13-year-old brother gained access to her phone and asked his age. He replied he was 22 to which the brother responded: “WTF?! If this is real I am going to block you, you creep.” Newsholme told the boy he was “actually 16”. The court was told when the girl finally told him she no longer wished to speak to him he said he wanted her to be his girlfriend. In arguing for a suspended sentence, Newsholme’s lawyer Michael Crowley told the court his client accepted responsibility for his actions and had sought help since being released on bail last year. He said at the time of the offending he was drinking heavily and was depressed after receiving a “demotion” at work but had used his time on bail to sort his affairs and attend counselling for his alcohol issues. But Judge Gary Massey said there was no mention in any of the reports prepared ahead of sentencing that he had addressed his sexual interest in children. Judge Massey also said his letter to the court did not express remorse for his victims but rather for the consequences for himself. He adjourned sentencing until Monday. Sexual Assault Resource Centre 1800 199 888 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800