A 19-year-old Sydney man is expected to face Sydney Downing Centre today (Monday, 24 May 2021) charged with a child grooming and child abuse material offence.
The investigation began in November 2020, after South Australia Police received information from a member of the public about an online user allegedly grooming a young girl via Skype.
Investigators from the South Australia Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (SA-JACET) allegedly linked a 19-year-old Maroubra, NSW man to the user details associated with the account.
AFP Child Protection Operations officers in Sydney executed a search warrant at the man's home in Maroubra on Monday, 26 April 2021, with investigators seizing two mobile phones for further forensic examination.
The man was arrested and charged with:
- Using a carriage service to groom persons under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.27A of the Criminal Code Act 1995(Cth); and
- Possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995(Cth).
The maximum penalty for these offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
He was granted bail to appear in Sydney Downing Centre today (Monday, 24 May 2021).
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Jeremy Staunton said the AFP works closely with police around Australia to identify alleged offenders and ensure the safety of all children in our community.
"Supervision and open communication with your children helps keep them safe from online threats and helps you to act quickly and prevent them from experiencing any possible physical abuse, as was the case in this investigation," Det. A/Inspector Staunton said.
SA Police Detective Superintendent James Blandford of the SAPOL Public Protection Branch said, "There are some people in our communities who need to take time to seriously reflect on their own totally unacceptable behaviour when online targeting unsuspecting, vulnerable and at times naïve young people for their own sexual gratification."
"All too frequently, police are seeing people across all ages and walks of life, go online in a planned, targeted and deceitful manner to entice and encourage young people into an inappropriate and unlawful situation which could affect them for the remainder of their lives. It is time for those predators to know that when you get caught; and you will get caught, that you will be made totally accountable for your deplorable actions," Det. Supt. Blandford said.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protection children online can be found at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
