A New South Wales man has been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by the Taree District Court for serious child abuse and online child abuse material offences.
The man, 54, was sentenced last week (29 April, 2026) and will serve a non-parole period of four years.
The Taree man pleaded guilty to four Commonwealth charges and two NSW charges:
One count of possessing child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
Three counts of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
Two counts of sexually touching a child under 10 years, contrary to section 66DA of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
Between 8 December, 2024, and 16 January, 2025, the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received three reports about a social media account transmitting child exploitation material on a messaging platform.
Police linked the account to the 54-year-old and in May, 2025, the AFP executed a search warrant at a property in Taree, NSW, where they seized a laptop, an external hard drive and a mobile phone.
NSW Police Force were also investigating the man for sexually touching two children under the age of 10, with the AFP and NSWPF subsequently collaborating to share information.
The man was later located at a service station in Kempsey South by AFP, where officers seized another mobile phone in the man's possession.
The devices were forensically examined, with investigators identifying 432 images and 12 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Following these discoveries the man was charged on 13 May, 2025 and remanded in custody.
AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said the AFP was committed to identifying, targeting and prosecuting all offenders who abused and exploited children.
"The AFP, along with our law enforcement partner agencies, are dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court," Det Supt Needham said.
"Our common goal is to protect children, and to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts.
"This outcome should serve as yet another serious warning that law enforcement has zero tolerance for child exploitation and child sexual abuse in any form."
NSWPF State Crime Commander of Child Abuse Squad, Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, said the outcome reflected the strength of cooperation between state and Commonwealth agencies.
"This offender caused significant harm, and today's sentence demonstrates our shared commitment to protecting children and holding perpetrators to account," Det Supt Howlett said.
"NSW Police worked closely with the AFP to ensure every piece of evidence was uncovered and every offence fully investigated."
"Child abuse in any form is abhorrent, and we will continue to pursue anyone who seeks to exploit or harm children - wherever they are and whatever platform they use."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (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 at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
