Photographer Phillip Thomas Lawrence’s links to Harvey Karate Group revealed as he faces child sex charges

An alleged child sex offender has links to a local children’s sporting club, often photographing the Harvey Karate Group and last year even going on an overseas tour with the kids. Phillip Thomas Lawrence fronted Harvey Magistrate’s Court on October 12 facing a string of charges including sexually penetrating a child under 13 and “persistently engaging in sexual conduct” with a child under the age of 16. The 62-year-old’s Facebook account contains dozens of images he has taken of children doing karate at the Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre. Mr Lawrence even accompanied a group of young kids from the club on a trip to New Zealand for an international karate competition in March last year. The magistrate said the child sex allegations spanned “across the South West, Mandurah and Perth”. Mr Lawrence’s Facebook page says he has lived in many Australian cities, including Hobart, Darwin, Melbourne, Penrith in NSW, and Perth. He was accompanied at court by his wife. According to social media, they have been married since 1986 and have two sons. He did not enter a plea at Harvey Magistrate’s Court and will face Perth Magistrate’s Court on December 21.