A Forrestfield man has been sentenced to three years and six months' imprisonment for online child abuse offences, including paying a teenage victim to create and send him sexually explicit videos.
The man, now aged 24, was sentenced by the Perth District Court yesterday (11 January, 2024) for nine offences relating to soliciting, accessing and possessing child abuse material.
The Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) arrested the man in August 2022 during Operation Tamworth, after investigating a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about online child abuse material on a social media platform.
Police linked the Forrestfield man to the illegal online activity and when they executed a search warrant at his home in August (2022), they found child abuse material on multiple electronic devices.
They also found he had been paying a teenage girl to make and send him sexually-explicit videos, as well as grooming another girl online.
Police seized three licenced firearms from the man's home during the warrant and 16 illegal firearms, which were gel blasters and replicas.
Authorities have identified a girl in videos sent to the man and have provided her with support.
AFP Acting Sergeant Rachael Knight said the AFP worked closely with local and international partners to protect children, wherever they lived in the world, from those seeking to inflict harm against them.
"Our message to online offenders has not changed - if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted," a/Sgt Knight said.
"We also appeal for help from families - please talk to children about online safety and remind them not to provide personal information to any so-called friends they've met online.
"If your child has been targeted, reassure them that it's not their fault and there is help available - children and young people are never to blame for being a victim of online child sexual exploitation.
"These offenders are manipulative and they will coerce or threaten children for their perverse gratification."
The man pleaded guilty to nine child abuse related offences:
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Four counts of possession of child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
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One offence of accessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) (a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
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One offence of soliciting child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) (a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
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One offence of produced supplied or obtained child abuse material, contrary to section 474.23(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
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One offence of produced supplied or obtained child abuse material, contrary to section 474.23(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
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Possess indecent article (bestiality), contrary to section 59(5) of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1996 (WA).
Each of those Commonwealth offences carry a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment, while the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1996 (WA) offence carries a maximum penalty of a $5000 fine.
The man will be eligible to apply for parole after serving 18 months' imprisonment.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to 16 charges relating to the possession of firearms (gel blasters) under WA legislation and was fined $2000.
