A Tamworth man was sentenced yesterday (31 May, 2023) to more than five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to 20 child abuse-related offences, including two aggravated offences.
The Calala man, 26, was charged by AFP's Child Protection Operations team in August 2021, after police identified the upload of child exploitation material to his online accounts.
Police executed a search warrant at the man's home on 17 August, 2021 where they identified and seized a number of electronic storage devices containing child abuse material.
An examination of the devices also found the man was responsible for the administration of multiple online chat groups, which he had set up for the purpose of sharing child abuse material.
The man pleaded guilty on 16 May, 2023 to the following offences:
- Two counts of controlling or moderating an electronic service for child abuse material with the intention to facilitate the commission of an offence, contrary to section 474.23A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of committing an aggravated offence involving conduct on three or more occasions on two or more people, contrary to section 474.24A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Six counts of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iv) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Two counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Five counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Two counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material to self, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material to person believed to be aged under 16, contrary to section 474.27A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
He was sentenced by Tamworth District Court to five years and two months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of three years.
Acting Superintendent Jeremy Staunton said the AFP remained committed to protecting our community's most vulnerable - our children.
"Our investigators are relentless in their pursuit of anyone sharing or accessing child abuse material ," Acting Supt Staunton said.
"This investigation should serve as a warning that law enforcement is dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court.
"This is not a victimless crime. Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators."
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 at 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 is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
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 at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
