Underbelly star faces child porn charges

Jeremy Kewley has appeared in popular Australian series like Underbelly and Neighbours.

Australian actor Jeremy Kewley, who has appeared in TV shows such as Underbelly and Neighbours, faces more than 100 charges for indecent acts involving boys.

Kewley is alleged to have filmed himself carrying out the offences after advertising for young males to take part in screen tests for a new movie.

The 54-year-old, of Brighton, was arrested on Thursday morning and later appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

He also faces two charges of possessing child pornography along with the 103 charges for allegedly performing indecent acts on boys aged under 16.

Prosecutor Luisa Di Pietrantonio told the court: "The accused advertised for young males to participate in screen tests for a new movie."

She said 27 boys applied and some took part in the tests.

Videos found on Kewley's computer showed him touching the boys' groins, kissing them on the lips and face, and pushing himself against their buttocks, the court heard.

The offences are alleged to have occurred in June and July 2011.

Kewley is well-known for his roles on television shows Neighbours from 1995 to 2012 and Blue Heelers from 1995 to 2004

The Melbourne man kicked off his acting career at 14-years-old in the 1976 film The Devil's Playground, directed by Fred Schepisi.

He also played Crown Prosecutor Vic Manoulis in Australian ABC drama series Janus in 1994 and 1995.

More recently, he was cast as notorious Melbourne underworld figure Des 'Tuppence' Moran in the nine-part series Fat Tony & Co. which begins screening on TV One next month.

He was given conditional bail and was ordered to return to court on March 13.

- AAP and Daily Mail