A man, 68, faced Wollongong Local Court yesterday (Friday October 14, 2020) after he allegedly planned to engage in sexual activity with a person under 16 years of age.
The AFP Child Protection Operations (CPO) team charged the man on Thursday, 13 October, 2022 with four child-abuse related offences following a protracted covert online operation.
It will be alleged in Court that between March and October 2022, the man expressed desires to commit child abuse offences and shared child abuse material online.
The man was arrested by AFP investigators after he allegedly planned to engage in sexual activity with a child, aged 12 years. A search warrant was executed on the man's Wollongong home later that day, where investigators allegedly found child abuse material stored on electronic devices.
AFP Detective Leading Senior Constable Ernest Smith said the investigation highlighted how the AFP worked tirelessly to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.
"This outcome should serve as a warning to those seeking to harm and exploit our most vulnerable in our community - our children. The AFP and its partners are dedicated to targeting and identifying those seeking to exploit children and bring them to justice," DLSC Smith said.
The man was charged with four child abuse-related offences:
- Possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- Using a carriage service to prepare or plan to engage in sexual activity with a person under 16 years of age contrary to section 474.25C of the Criminal Code 1995.
- Two counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
The maximum penalty for the offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation 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 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.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety.
An award-winning podcast launched last year by the ACCCE 'Closing The Net' is working to change that, showcasing that knowledge is power and that our only chance to help prevent this issue is if we bring a 'whole-of-community' response.
The podcast series offers valuable tips and advice on how to keep kids safe online. Listen to the Closing The Net podcast on your favourite streaming platform.
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.
