B.C. judge refuses bail for convicted pedophile facing more charges

PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. – A British Columbia judge has refused to grant bail to a man awaiting trial on sex-tourism charges that allege he abused children in Cambodia a decade ago.

Christopher Neil has already spent five years in prison in Thailand for sexually assaulting children in that country.

Neil’s lawyer had asked for the man’s release on bail leading up to his trial where he faces 10 counts, including sexual touching, invitation to sexual touching and production of child pornography.

While the judge rejected the bail request, other details of today’s hearing can’t be revealed because of a sweeping publication ban.

Neil was dubbed “Swirl Face” after his 2007 arrest in Thailand based on digitally disguised images of his face in photos depicting him in sex acts with children.

Neil also faces charges of accessing and possessing child pornography in Vancouver, allegedly after he was deported back to Canada in fall 2012.