A West Australian man has been sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for accessing, possessing and transmitting videos and images of young children being sexually abused.
The man, 26, was sentenced in the Perth District Court yesterday (29 May, 2025) after being charged on 30 August, 2024. He will be released on a recognizance order after four months' imprisonment to be of good behaviour for eight months.
He was charged in 2024 after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers stopped him for a routine inspection at Perth Airport on 8 April, 2024, after he arrived on a flight from Bali.
Officers found images and videos of child abuse material on the man's mobile phone, which was seized, and the matter was referred to the Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET), encompassing officers from the AFP and Western Australia Police Force.
Further forensic examination of the phone found videos and images involving children engaged in sexual acts, along with communications with other users about child abuse material, on an instant messaging application.
The man pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court on 18 October, 2024, to:
- One count of access child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of transmit child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of cause to transmit child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of possess child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
AFP Detective Superintendent Murray Taylor said the AFP and its partners remained committed to the protection of children from online sexual predators.
"Anyone who accesses, possesses or transmits any form of this grotesque material is breaking the law and will be prosecuted," Supt Taylor said.
"Children are some of the most vulnerable members of our society and must be shielded from harm."
ABF Superintendent Vesna Gavranich said the court's outcome was a stark reminder that the vigilance of ABF officers at Australia's airports was critical in protecting the most vulnerable.
"Our officers are at the front line when it comes to detecting child abuse material and other evidence of child abuse on passengers' devices and will act decisively with our law enforcement partners when it is found," Supt Gavranich said.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse, with the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) driving a collaborative national approach.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
