A Darwin man was sentenced to eight years and nine months' imprisonment by the Darwin Supreme Court yesterday (17 December, 2025) for a range of child abuse offences, including the possession of more than 8500 child abuse images.
The man, 19, pleaded guilty to a total of 16 offences, including producing, soliciting, accessing and possessing child abuse material, after a Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET) investigation.
The Malak man will be eligible for parole in May 2027.
The NT JACET investigation into the man began in December 2022, after the AFP received a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user in the Northern Territory uploading child abuse material via social media.
The NT JACET, comprising investigators from AFP and Northern Territory Police, linked the man to the online offending and executed a search warrant at his Malak home. Police located several electronic devices and after forensic examination located more than 8500 images stored on his mobile devices, USB and SD card.
He was arrested and charged by AFP officers in February 2023 and released on bail. In April 2023, Detectives from NT JACET arrested the man again and his bail was revoked.
The man pleaded guilty to the following offences in the Darwin Supreme Court on 18 September, 2024:
- Two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Two counts of soliciting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Two counts of gross indecency with a child, contrary to section 127(1)(b) and (3) of the Criminal Code Act 1983 (NT);
- Three counts of using a child in production of child abuse material, contrary to section 125E(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1983 (NT);
- One count of expose a child to indecent act, contrary to section 132(2)(b) of the Criminal Code Act 1983 (NT);
- Three counts of incest, contrary to section 134(1)&(3) of the Criminal Code Act 1983 (NT); and
- Two counts of distributing child abuse material, contrary to section 125B(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1983 (NT).
AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said the AFP and its law enforcement partners would continue to work tireless to prosecute criminals responsible for harming children.
"Investigations such as this should serve as a serious warning that law enforcement has zero tolerance for child exploitation and child sexual abuse in any form," Supt Davis said.
"The creation, sharing and possession of child abuse material is abhorrent and has long-lasting impacts on the lives of victimised children.
"The AFP and its law enforcement partners are relentless in its pursuit to identify and bring those who seek to sexually abuse and harm children, to justice - no matter where they are in the world."
Northern Territory Police Detective Senior Sergeant Toby Wilson said anyone involved in viewing, sharing, or producing abusive material is engaging in reprehensible criminal activity.
"This investigation highlights the critical role of collaborative efforts among various agencies in apprehending offenders who pose significant threats to vulnerable members of our community," Det Sen-Sgt Wilson said.
"The NT JACET will continue working alongside our interstate partners to combat all forms of child exploitation."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child abuse and exploitation, 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 the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
