A Sydney man was sentenced in the Downing Centre Court today (Friday 2 June) to three years imprisonment for serious online child abuse material (CAM) offences.
The man, 20, pleaded guilty to seven CAM-related offences:
- Three counts of using a carriage service to transmit CAM, contrary to s.474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Two counts of producing CAM, contrary to s.91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
- One count of using carriage service to access/possess CAM, contrary to s.474.22(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of possessing CAM, contrary to s.474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The investigation began on 21 March, 2021, following an INTERPOL tip-off to the AFP Child Protection Triage Unit (AFP CPTU) relating to the online grooming of a child in Luxembourg.
Police later received multiple reports from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) linking the man to the upload of child abuse material online.
A search warrant was executed at the man's Peakhurst home on 10 February, 2022 where investigators located child abuse material on electronic devices. The man was subsequently arrested at his home and later charged.
The man was sentenced to three years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 21 months imprisonment.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Amanda Thompson said the AFP works with international partners to help protect Australian children.
"Today's sentencing once again shows how the AFP works with partners in Australia and overseas to target those abusing children, Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson said."
"Advances in technology now mean it takes multiple law enforcement agencies working together to break networks that share this material and keep children safe.
"The AFP is working around-the-clock with our international and domestic law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who seek to do harm to children."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation 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.
