Jailed author Craig Silvey publishes 9,000-word apology

Australian author Craig Silvey has published a 9,000-word apology on Substack, titled "My Apology", after being jailed for child exploitation offences. The Guardian reported on the post on 3 November 2026.

Silvey, 44, is best known for Jasper Jones, his 2009 coming-of-age novel, which was adapted into a feature film and stage productions. He was jailed by a Perth judge, and ABC News reported that he admitted distributing graphic images of adults abusing children. He was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment for child exploitation offences, meaning sexual images or videos of children.

Silvey was charged in January and pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing child exploitation material. The case was heard in the Western Australian District Court. According to The Guardian, the court heard that he sent multiple messages about his sexual desire for young boys.

Police raided his home in Fremantle, a port city near Perth, and found numerous sexually explicit photos and videos of children and adults on his laptop and mobile phone.

In his apology, Silvey wrote that as a child he experienced emotional neglect, violence and sexual abuse.