A Darwin man has been sentenced to five years and seven months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years, by the Darwin Supreme Court today (12 November, 2024) for possessing thousands of photos and videos of child abuse material.
The man, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child abuse material in September, 2024, with more than 3500 files of child abuse material found on nine of the man's electronic devices.
The Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET), comprising members from the AFP and Northern Territory Police, began an investigation into the man after receiving reports from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an online user in the Northern Territory sending child abuse material via social media.
Investigators linked the man to the online offending and executed a search warrant at his Karama home in October, 2023. During the search, investigators located sexually explicit child abuse material on the devices including a hard drive, two SD cards, a USB, five mobile phones and a laptop.
The man was arrested and charged with one count of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
AFP Superintendent Gregory Davis said the AFP and its law enforcement partners would continue to pursue and bring to justice anyone involved in this type of abhorrent offending.
"We want to send a clear message that perpetrators will be caught and brought before the courts," Superintendent Davis said.
"These are real victims who are severely impacted for life every time their image is accessed and shared."
Northern Territory Police Detective Acting Sergeant Duane Commandeur said anyone involved in viewing child abuse material was engaging in inexcusable criminal activity.
"This investigation showcases the importance of collaborative interagency efforts to tirelessly pursue and apprehend offenders.
"NT JACET will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to combat all forms of child exploitation."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
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.
