Sex Crimes Squad detectives have charged a Newcastle man following an investigation into alleged child grooming and the accessing of child abuse material under Strike Force Trawler.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by Sex Crimes Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
As part of ongoing inquiries, a 26-year-old man was identified allegedly using a number of social media platforms to allegedly groom underage girls for sex, and to access and share child abuse material.
About 11.30am yesterday (Thursday 1 February 2024), strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Waratah where they arrested a 26-year-old man.
The man was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with eight offences, including use carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex, use carriage service to send indecent material to person, use carriage service to solicit child abuse material, possess/control child abuse material-use carriage service, possess prohibited drug and three counts of use carriage service to access child abuse material.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 2 February 2024).
Inquiries under Strike Force Trawler continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
