Sex Crimes Squad detectives have laid 29 additional charges against a man believed to be one of the state's biggest self-producers of online bestiality content under Strike Force Trawler.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by Sex Crimes Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
In February 2024, strike force detectives executed search warrants across the greater Sydney area targeting the online sharing and promotion of child abuse material, which led them to the online profile of a user under the pseudonym 'Beast Boy'.
Further enquiries identified 'Beast Boy' had a large online presence and used encrypted messaging apps to allegedly share bestiality material, which featured the sexual abuse of various animals such as dogs, sheep, goats, chickens and a dead kangaroo.
About 7.30am on Tuesday 30 April 2024, strike force detectives – with assistance from officers attached to Manning Great Lakes Police District and the Rescue & Bomb Disposal Unit – executed a search warrant in Moorland, about 30km north of Taree, where they arrested a 38-year-old man.
A dog – missing from the Grafton area for approximately five years - was seized by the RSPCA NSW and returned to its owner.
The man was charged with 20 offences and remains before the courts.
Following further investigations and the analysis of seized electronics and hard drives, investigators allegedly identified thousands of videos and images of bestiality and child abuse material and an additional 29 offences will be laid at court today (Monday 8 July 2024).
The additional charges include seven counts of bestiality, five count of possess and disseminate bestiality material, commit an act of cruelty upon an animal, as well as possess child abuse material and 15 counts of using carriage service to access, transmit and solicit child abuse material.
The man remains on remand and is due to appear at Taree Local Court.
Inquiries under Strike Force Trawler continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
