A 44-year-old Brisbane man was today (10 March 2022) sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for sharing and distributing child abuse material online.
The man previously pleaded guilty to five offences in the District Court of Queensland, following his arrest in July 2020 by Australian Federal Police members of the Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET).
The investigation began in June 2019, when law enforcement agencies were alerted to the potential sharing and distribution of child abuse material through peer to peer (P2P) file sharing networks.
The JACET conducted a search warrant at the man's home in July 2020, where they located a computer tower with two internal hard disk drives, an external hard disk drive and a USB thumb drive.
All devices were examined at the premises and were found to contain CAM.
AFP Senior Constable Douglas Kinley said sexual abuse had a devastating and lifelong impact on child victims and their families.
"The abuse of these children is amplified each time images or videos detailing the crimes are shared," Senior Constable Kinley said.
"The AFP and its partners will continue to bring those responsible for these horrendous behaviours to justice."
The man was convicted of the following offences:
- Two counts of using a carriage service to access child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- Two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
He was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment. He will be eligible for release on a good behaviour bond and subject to a supervision order after serving four months' imprisonment.
He was also ordered to forfeit all of the digital storage devices that were used to store the child abuse material.
The AFP is urging the public to help it solve cold case child abuse investigations through its Stop Child Abuse - Trace an Object initiative. The smallest clue can often help solve a case.
The world-leading initiative, is centred on the publishing of non-confrontational images that can be seen in child exploitation online material such as pieces of clothing or bedding.
Australian investigators believe the images are linked to victims in the Asia Pacific Region, including Australia, and are calling on the community to view the images and make a report at www.accce.gov.au/trace.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is at the centre of a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse and exploitation.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into child sexual exploitation and abuse and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or 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 are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
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.
