A South Australian man was sentenced yesterday (1 July, 2024) to three years' imprisonment for possessing hundreds of images and videos of online child abuse material, after an investigation launched when a member of the public reported him to police.
The Everard Park man, 68, was sentenced by the District Criminal Court of South Australia after pleading guilty in 2023 to three counts of possessing child abuse material obtained via online platforms.
The South Australian Joint Anti Child Exploitation (SA JACET) team, comprising AFP and South Australia Police officers, identified the man and executed a search warrant at his Everard Park home in June 2023 after investigating a report from a member of the public who found child abuse material on several electronic devices.
During the search, the SA JACET seized several electronic devices for further forensic examination, including a desktop computer and external hard drives. Child abuse material was also found on some of those devices. The man was then arrested.
AFP Sergeant Joe Barry said the sentencing demonstrated the importance of the community's assistance in reporting suspicious behaviour.
"We are grateful for any information the community may have that could assist authorities to identify anyone involved in the exploitation or abuse of children," Sgt Barry said.
"The AFP will continue to also work closely with its local, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners to bring these offenders to justice.
"Online child abuse causes significant harm to victims, who suffer each time images or videos of their abuse is accessed and shared."
The man was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years and three months.
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 at www.accce.gov.au/report. 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 at www.accce.gov.au/support.
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 www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
