Detectives from Argos have charged a 20-year-old man with child sex offences following an investigation into the alleged online grooming of a 12-year-old girl via the messaging platform Discord.
The investigation began on 8 October when Police received intelligence the man was allegedly engaged in inappropriate behaviour with a 12-year-old child online, including soliciting her for intimate images and outlining his desire to engage in violent and abhorrent behaviour.
Argos covert online operatives have engaged with the suspect online and subsequently identified him, leading to the execution of a search warrant yesterday where child exploitation material was located on electronic devices, along with online chat logs alleged to outline his conversations with the victim child.
It will be alleged that the man was on bail for the alleged rape of another child he met online over the same messaging platform in May 2021. Investigations are ongoing into the online activities of the man.
The 20-year-old Annerley man was charged with using the internet to procure a child under 16 years of age, using a carriage service to groom a child under 16yrs, and the possession of child exploitation material. He has been refused bail and is due to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court today, Friday 15 October 2021.
Detective Inspector Glen Donaldson of Argos said this case highlights the risk posed to children by online predators and urged parents and caregivers to take active and ongoing measures around online safety.
"Supervision is key to prevention, as is ongoing communication with children about how to stay safe online and the dangers of having online 'friends' they have never met face-to-face," Detective Inspector Donaldson said.
"The Queensland Police Service remains committed to working with its partner agencies to target offenders involved in the sexual exploitation of children. Every day Argos has undercover officers working in a range of online platforms to detect and apprehend people who seek to exploit children in our community.
"To those that seek to engage in this predatory behaviour, just remember that the next 'child' that you engage may be a member of Argos."
Resources and advice
- eSafety Commissioner a key partner of the QPS in enhancing online safety, with a comprehensive suite of information, resources and reporting tools to ensure children have a safe experience online.
- Who's chatting to your kids? Further QPS advice and information about reducing online risks for children.
- Out of the dark #doiknowu a campaign by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) supported by the QPS and Department of Education, providing resources to help young people stay safe online.
- Think U Know is a partnership between Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth Bank, Datacom, Microsoft, State and Territory Police and Neighbourhood Watch. It provides information on topics including sexting, cyber bullying, online child exploitation, online privacy, and what to do when something goes wrong.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
