This is a joint release between the Australian Federal Police and Tasmania Police
A Tasmanian man has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years, for child abuse-related offences.
The man, 26, was sentenced by the Launceston Supreme Court yesterday (13 February, 2025) for 22 offences relating to possessing and accessing child abuse material, as well as grooming children online for sexual activity.
The Tasmanian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) arrested the man in March, 2023, after investigating a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an Australian user transmitting child abuse material on a social media platform.
Police linked the man to the illegal online activity and executed a search warrant at his Rocherlea home on 7 March, 2023, where they found child abuse material on a mobile phone.
After further digital forensic analysis of seized electronic devices, investigators located more than 2000 images containing child abuse material and videos tallying more than 90 viewing hours.
Investigators also found evidence the man had engaged in grooming activity with 14 children online and attempted to procure self-produced child exploitation material through conversations where he was posing as an adolescent male.
The man was charged and pleaded guilty to:
Seven counts of using a carriage service to groom person under 16 years of age for sexual activity, contrary to section 474.27(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
Three counts of using a carriage service to procure person under 16 years of age for sexual activity, contrary to section 474.26(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
Three counts of using a carriage service to engage in/plan sexual activity with person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.25C of the Criminal Code (Cth);
Two counts of using a carriage service to send indecent material to person less than 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.27A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
One count of using a carriage service to solicit child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
Two counts of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material using carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The court took into account a further three offences relating to transmission and solicitation of child abuse material when determining the sentence.
AFP Detective Acting Sergeant Dannii Campbell said anyone who viewed images and videos of children being sexually abused was committing a crime.
"The AFP and its partners, across Australia and overseas, are committed to protecting children and prosecuting anyone involved in their harm," Det a/Sgt Campbell said.
"Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators and the demand for videos and images depicting abuse contributes to the physical harm and torture of innocent children."
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 on the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
