A 36-year-old man who shared horrific child abuse material was yesterday (1 June 2022) sentenced by the Brisbane District Court to 2 years' imprisonment.
The man, from Deception Bay, had pleaded guilty to five charges including accessing, possessing and sharing child abuse material online.
The Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team arrested and charged the man in December 2020 as a result of an investigation launched following a report from the United States' National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
The report related to a Queensland social media user who was uploading and distributing child abuse material to two social media platforms, and engaging in sexualised chats with other people online.
AFP investigators in Brisbane JACET linked the 36-year-old to both social media accounts. When they executed a search warrant at his home they found child abuse material on a number of electronic devices.
AFP Leading Senior Constable Claire Arnold said the investigation showed how closely the AFP worked with international partners to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.
"Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live, and ensure anyone involved in harming them is identified and brought before the courts," Det Leading Sen-Constable Arnold said.
The man plead guilty to:
- Using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- Three counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
He was sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of six months.
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 and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety.
An award winning podcast launched last year by the ACCCE 'Closing The Net' is working to change that, showcasing that knowledge is power and that our only chance to help prevent this issue is if we bring a 'whole-of-community' response.
The podcast series offers valuable tips and advice on how to keep kids safe online. Listen to the Closing The Net podcast on your favourite streaming platform.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
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.
