A Victorian man has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years and three months', for live online child sexual abuse related offences.
The man, 52, was sentenced on Tuesday (1 October, 2024) by the Melbourne Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to four charges.
The Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET), comprising of the AFP and Victoria Police, charged the man in September, 2021, after investigations identified an individual engaging in the live streamed sexual exploitation of two children in the Philippines.
The man was arrested in Ballarat on 10 September, 2021 after investigators located child abuse material on his mobile phone. Police later searched his Portland home, where they found child abuse material on electronic devices which were seized for further digital forensic analysis.
This matter has been referred to Philippine authorities and the AFP will continue to assist in the removal of these, and other children from harm.
The man pleaded guilty to:
- One count of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted, contrary to subsection 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity in the presence of the defendant, contrary to subsection 272.9(2) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to subsection 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained using a carriage service, contrary to subsection 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The sentencing judge said the man had exploited children in a third world country for his own sexual gratification.
AFP Detective Superintendent Bernard Geason said AFP officers worked closely with local and international law enforcement authorities to locate and assist children who were in dangerous and harmful situations and identify child abusers looking to exploit them.
"The AFP works closely with police around the world to combat the exploitation and abuse of children," Detective Superintendent Geason said.
"Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live, and to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts."
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.
