A Perth man has been jailed for three years, with a non-parole period of 18 months, for child abuse material-related offences.
The man, 48, was sentenced in Perth District Court last week (16 January, 2025) after pleading guilty to 11 charges related to possessing, transmitting and accessing child abuse material online.
The West Australian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) executed a search warrant and arrested the man on 11 January, 2024 at his Craigie home where investigators located and seized multiple electronic devices which contained child abuse material.
The investigation began after the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material to a Google Drive account.
AFP Detective Inspector Andrea Coleman said the investigation highlighted how closely police around the world worked together to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.
"Whether the victim is in Australia or overseas, the AFP and its partners will ensure anyone who targets children for harm is identified and brought before the courts," Det-Insp Coleman said.
"This sentencing should serve as a warning - if you procure, access or transmit child abuse material, you will be found and prosecuted."
The man pleaded guilty on 28 June, 2024 to:
- One count of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Six counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- Four counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(i)(a) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach.
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 at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
