A Queensland man has been sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for indecent treatment of a child and accessing, transmitting and soliciting child abuse material.
He was ordered to serve a minimum non-parole period of seven years and six months. The man, 55, was sentenced last week in the Rockhampton Supreme Court after he previously pleaded guilty to 14 child abuse-related offences.
An investigation began in January, 2024, when the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency about a person sharing child abuse material in a number of chats on an online platform and claiming they had access to children they could sexually abuse.
The Northern Command Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NC JACET) linked the online activity to the man and executed a search warrant at his Central Highlands Region home on 7 February, 2024.
Investigators located and seized two mobile phones, a tablet and a laptop. Forensic examination of the devices found the man had engaged with hundreds of users on an instant messaging app with respect to the transmission, access and solicitation of child abuse material.
The man pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 years, contrary to section 210(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Five counts of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16 years, contrary to section 474.27A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of an aggravated offence - offence involving conduct on three or more occasions and two or more people, contrary to section 474.24A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iv) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to oneself, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of possessing child abuse material obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the AFP was unwavering in its commitment to protecting children from the devastating impact of online child abuse.
"We recognise the evolving nature of these crimes, which are often facilitated through online platforms and social media," Det Supt Telfer said.
"Our specialised teams are working tirelessly to identify and rescue victims, disrupt offender networks, and bring perpetrators to justice both in Australia and internationally.
"Through collaboration with state and territory law enforcement and international partners, we are using cutting-edge technology and intelligence sharing to uncover offenders and prevent harm. Our message to offenders is clear: you are not anonymous, and you will be found.
"The AFP will continue to lead and support operations that safeguard children, prioritise victim identification, and ensure that those who prey on the most vulnerable members of our community are held accountable."
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 at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
