Andy Muirhead

Andy Muirhead
Born	1975 Sale, Victoria
Occupation	Radio and television presenter Comedian Biologist

Andrew Robert "Andy" Muirhead (born 1975) is an Australian former radio and television presenter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He was the presenter of ABC Radio's breakfast program in Tasmania and also the presenter of the Collectors television program from 2005 to 2010. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to accessing child pornography and served four months of a five-month jail sentence.

Career

Muirhead has worked in TV and radio since 2004 and has also performed comedy. He represented Tasmania in the 2003 Raw Comedy National finals and has appeared at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from 2004.

Personal life

Muirhead was born in Sale, Victoria and moved to Hobart, Tasmania with his family. He graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1998. He worked as a biologist for a forestry company doing insect and mammal surveys while also doing stand up comedy. He lives in Hobart with his long term partner.

Child pornography conviction

Andy Muirhead
Criminal charge	Access child pornography
Criminal penalty	Five months and good behaviour bond
Criminal status	Released after four months with remissions
Conviction(s)	Guilty

In June 2010 he went on unpaid leave and production of Collectors was temporarily suspended when he was charged with one count of accessing child pornography. Production of Collectors resumed in July without Muirhead, and repeats of episodes featuring him were pulled from the ABC's schedule. The ABC has been criticised by lawyers for protecting their reputation rather than supporting him. He was bailed and pleaded not guilty in February 2011. The case was referred back to the Magistrates Court for 1 August 2011. The hearing on that day lasted only an hour rather than the expected two days and was adjourned again. Appearing in court again on 13 March 2012 he pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned to 14 May 2012, then again to June 2012.

In July 2012 it was reported that Muirhead intended to change his plea to guilty at a hearing on 31 July.

On 31 July 2012, Muirhead pleaded guilty as expected. He was remanded in custody by Ewan Crawford, Tasmanian Chief Justice. On 14 August 2012 the sentencing was adjourned until 7 September 2012, with Muirhead again remanded in custody. On 1 October he was sentenced to 10 months in prison. His sentence was subsequently reduced to five months and security of $5000 for a three-year period of good behaviour. He was released after four months of the sentence following routine remissions.