A New South Wales man is expected to appear in Campbelltown Local Court today (2 May, 2025) charged with five child sex offences, including sexual intercourse with a child aged 14 to 16.
Police allege the man, 45, used his position in the performing arts industry to gain access to a teenager.
The AFP started an investigation in March, 2025, following a referral from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) relating to child abuse material being uploaded to a dating platform account.
Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) allegedly linked the man to the account and referred the matter to AFP Eastern Command Child Protection Operations.
The AFP executed a search warrant at the man's Campbelltown home yesterday (1 May, 2025) where they located and seized a number of electronic devices.
An examination of the devices allegedly located child abuse material, including a video file which allegedly depicted the man engaging in sexual acts with a young person.
The AFP charged the man with:
One count of sexual intercourse with a child aged between 14 and 16, contrary to section 66C(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment;
Two counts of use carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 (1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years' imprisonment;
One count of use carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted, contrary to section 474.22 (1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment;
One count of use carriage service to possess child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment; and
One count of using a carriage service for sexual activity with person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.25A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said no child should be subjected to abuse and violence from people who hold high positions of trust in their lives.
"Adults who abuse their position of power or influence over children for their own depraved pleasures have no concern for the lasting effects on their victims," Det Supt Blunden said.
"Our message to offenders is you cannot hide behind online anonymity - police can and will use all resources at our disposal to identify you and put you before the courts.
"Every child deserves to feel safe, and the AFP and its partners will do whatever we can to protect children."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the 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. 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 on the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
