Rebecca Michels and fiance Craig Stanley. ‘‘We were tipped off by campers at the national park and they alerted local police, then we searched the area and that’s when we came across Craig in a local supermarket ... I take it that they were aware they were wanted." Michels, 25, faced the first bail hearing on four charges – one count of an indecent act with a child under 16, two counts of having made or produced child pornography and one count of knowingly having possessed child pornography. She did not apply for bail but Magistrate Richard Pithouse noted Michels had never been arrested before and told police to note that because of the nature of her charges she was at risk in the prison system. Michels sat in the dock quietly with her head down during the bail hearing.

Stanley faced five charges, including one count of an indecent act with a child under 16, two counts of having made or produced child pornography and two counts of knowingly having possessed child pornography. Stanley also made no application for bail and Mr Pithouse told police again to note that because of the nature of his charges he was at risk in the prison system. Both were remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday. Stanley led officers to Michels, her lawyer Ben Archbold said. The couple went missing last month following a raid on a house. Police said they executed search warrants on the couple's Langwarrin home on October 27, the day of their disappearance.

Mr Archbold said he was extremely relieved his client had been arrested. ‘‘This is the first time I’ve been happy for one of my clients to be arrested because now I know she is safe and well,’’ he said. ‘‘Obviously there was serious concerns for the welfare of both of them. ‘‘We were just hoping they didn’t do anything to themselves. ‘‘Because this is a unique situation, I’ve spoken to the parents and I’m being instructed by them. But I still have to speak to my client. ‘‘I’ve spoken to the father. The police have been fantastic, they let the family know as soon as the two of them were found,’’ he said.

‘‘He was in getting food in the supermarket. The police have then been called, they’ve come, they’ve arrested him and they’ve said ‘where is she’ and he’s led them to a camp in the national park.’’ The couple initially told friends they planned to go camping at Bendigo, before using a hire car to travel to Ballarat. Stanley, 28, a private detective and former defence force recruit, arranged for the rented gold Nissan X-Trail to be taken back to Frankston by a car transport firm in Ross Creek. Clothing, camping gear and a metal detector were inside the rental car when it was returned. Police say the circumstances surrounding the case were particularly strange.

Earlier this month, The Age revealed that Stanley had a fascination with ghost hunting, scanning country Victoria in search of the paranormal. Shortly after the couple went missing, family and friends set up a Facebook page, pleading for them to come home. The page had more than 3000 members when it was shut down - about the time police revealed the pair were fugitives rather than missing persons. ‘‘They have been aware of the media coverage but I’m not sure about their knowledge about their family and how much contact they’ve had with the outside world,’’ Inspector Pannell said. ‘‘I’ve had my detectives contact both families and they are both relieved, like we are, that they’re well fed and alive.’’

Michels’ father, Ross McAdie, this morning told radio station 3AW that he was ‘‘completely ecstatic’’ his daughter had been found. He said he was yet to speak to Ms Michels and thanked police for acting quickly at a ‘‘very trying time’’. ‘‘I’m assured by our solicitor that we should be able to speak to her today.’’ With the Ballarat Courier, Wimmera Mail-Times