A Cairns man was sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment by the Cairns Supreme Court today (25 February, 2026) for seven child abuse-related offences, including being an active participant in a chat group dedicated to sharing child abuse material.
He was ordered to serve eight years in custody before being eligible for parole.
The Manoora man, 30, who has been in custody since August, 2022, today pleaded guilty to seven offences:
- One count of the aggravated offence of conduct contrary to one or more of sections 474.22, 474.22A and 474.23 of the Criminal Code, on three or more occasions and between two or more people, contrary to section 474.24A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to himself, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed by using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- Two counts of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the AFP and its law enforcement partners continued to work tirelessly to prosecute criminals responsible for harming children.
"Every image, every video is of a real child being abused and subjected to an abhorrent situation that no child should ever have to face," Det Supt Telfer said.
"Children are not commodities to be used for the gratification of sexual predators.
"This outcome should serve as a strong warning to those seeking to exploit and harm children - the AFP and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to detect you."
About the ACCCE
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.
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.
