
A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack has sensationally been charged with sending child pornography using a carriage service.

The senior Nine Network journalist, who was suspended by the network on Thursday night, allegedly had 'sexually explicit conversations' about children and discussed child porn with another man.

Mr McCormack, 42, appeared drawn and had dark circles under his eyes as he emerged from a Sydney police station at about 6pm to a swarm of journalists shouting questions.

The veteran reporter was pulled over by police on the way to work on Driver Avenue, in Moore Park, at 7.30am on Thursday.

Thursday evening's episode of A Current Affair led with a report on Mr McCormack's arrest and presenter Leila McKinnon stated the programme intends to 'cover the story without fear or favour.'

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Shock arrest: Ben McCormack, 42, appeared drawn and had dark circles under his eyes as he emerged from Redfern police station on Thursday night

Sydney journalists, many no doubt familiar with Mr McCormack, shouted questions as he emerged from Redfern police station after the shock arrest

The journalist - instrumental in Nine's coverage of the Hey Dad! abuse saga - huddled close behind to his lawyer Sam Macedone (on left) as he emerged from the police station

Mr McCormack - charged with a child pornography offence - was on the other side of media cameras as he emerged into a swarm of reporters

The 42-year-old reporter was pictured arriving to spend the night at a friend's house after leaving Redfern police station

Mr McCormack was pictured arriving a friend's home in Sydney after being granted strict conditional bail on Thursday night

In a three-and-a-half-minute video released by investigators, the journalist could be seen standing on the side of the road while police scoured his Mazda Sedan and bags.

Wearing a blue suit, he was led into the back seat of an unmarked police car and taken to Redfern Police Station where he was charged with using a carriage service to send child pornography.

McCormack was granted strict conditional bail and will face Downing Centre Local Court on May 1. If he was convicted by a court, he could face up to 15 years behind bars, reports said.

The arrest - which occurred while his boss was overseas in Kuwait - has sent shockwaves through the Australian media industry.

The arrest of Mr McCormack (seen on air) came after as many as eight police raided his offices at Willoughby

McCormack was granted strict conditional bail and will face Downing Centre Local Court on May 1

McCormack was picked up in a waiting car and taken away from the media chaos

The Nine Network led its evening bulletin with the development, showing vision of McCormack being swarmed by an enormous media pack.

One journalist loudly asked McCormack what he was thinking about when he was covering Hey Dad! abuser Robert Hughes' trial in 2014.

As well as being the face of many of A Current Affair's consumer stories, Mr McCormack was instrumental in breaking stories about the Hey Dad! saga.

In 2010, after allegations of Hughes' abuse first came to light, McCormack confronted the former sitcom star in Singapore.

According to a Fairfax report, McCormack phoned victim Sarah Monahan the result of Robert Hughes' 2014 trial after watching the guilty verdict in the courtroom.

Shock arrest: Ben McCormack (pictured with a detective in video distributed by police) was pulled over and arrested on Thursday morning

Police pulled Mr McCormack over in Moore Park on the way to work about 7:30am on Thursday morning

In video released by investigators, the journalist could be seen standing on the side of the road while police scoured his Mazda Sedan and bags

Mr McCormack was also apparently taken to his home in Alexandria - where police executed a search warrant

Led away: Wearing a blue suit, Mr McCormack joined police in the back of an unmarked car and was taken away

The development has shocked the Australian media industry - with McCormack known to colleagues as 'hard working and decent'

In a statement late on Thursday night, Nine spokeswoman Victoria Buchan described McCormack as a '25 year veteran of the Nine Network' and said he had suspended immediately.

'While justice MUST take its course, given the serious nature of the allegations Nine has taken a strong position and immediately suspended Ben McCormack,' Ms Buchan said.

Colleagues were stunned - with one shell-shocked worker describing him as 'hard working and decent' and dedicated to his job. The Nine Network has stressed the offences do not relate to A Current Affair.

McCormack met with his lawyer Sam Macedone after news broke of police raiding Channel Nine's Sydney headquarters at Willoughby.

'I did meet with Ben earlier… and I do believe he will be charged, with what though, I'm not sure,' Mr Macedone told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr McCormack was interviewed by detectives at Redfern Police Station just after midday.

Detectives are seen with Mr McCormack after executing a search warrant on his home

Bags of evidence and electrical storage devices were seen in NSW Police video

McCormack (pictured) spoke with detectives at a Sydney police station just after midday, his lawyer said

As many as eight police officers raided Channel Nine's Sydney headquarters about 9.45am.

Officers ordered staff to leave their cubicles as they searched the building and were later seen leaving with bags of evidence.

Detectives seized computers, a mobile phone, and electronic storage devices. Late on Thursday, police said their investigation is continuing.

When Daily Mail Australia asked if the journalist would be stood down during the investigation, the Nine Network declined to comment.

'We have not been given any further information by the police and we won't be making any further comment at this time,' spokeswoman Victoria Buchan said.

McCormack is due to a face a Sydney court on May 1

As many as eight police entered the A Current Affair offices in Willoughby, Sydney's north, around 9:45am on Thursday

News director Darren Wick sent an email to staff shortly after the search began.

Mr Wick said: 'I can confirm that officers from the New South Wales police have been at TCN this morning investigating matters relating to a staff member at A Current Affair.

'It's a personal matter that does not relate to the program or Nine.

'We are co-operating with the police. However, we are not in a position to comment any further as this is an ongoing investigation.'

Staff have since returned to work.