A Sunshine Coast man has been jailed for grooming children online and soliciting and transmitting child abuse material.
The man, 39, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Maroochydore District Court on Friday (24 February, 2023) after previously pleading guilty to eight charges.
The AFP launched an investigation, after receiving reports from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), about an online user uploading child abuse material online.
The Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) linked the man to the online activity and executed a search warrant at his home in February, 2021. He was arrested and charged after officers found child abuse material stored on a mobile phone and a laptop.
Investigators also identified stored chats on the devices, which revealed the man was grooming children, soliciting child abuse material and purchasing child abuse material.
AFP Spokesperson Acting Superintendent Mary Bolton said the case demonstrated the AFP's commitment to investigate and charge offenders believed to be involved in child exploitation and sexual abuse.
"Today should serve as a warning that law enforcement is dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court," A/Supt Bolton said.
"Our investigators are relentless in their pursuit of anyone sharing or accessing child abuse material, but we will always need the community's help to ensure we are effective in identifying victims and perpetrators."
A/Supt Bolton also appealed to parents and carers to learn what platforms, games and apps their children were using and remind them to never reveal personal information to online friends.
"The AFP-led education program ThinkUKnow has a number of resources with tips on how to protect your child online," A/Supt Bolton said.
The man was charged with:
- One count of using a carriage service to make available child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Two counts of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to self, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(iv) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to groom a person under 16 years, contrary to section 474.27(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of possessing child abuse material obtained or access using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each of these offences is 15 years imprisonment.
The man was sentenced to a total of three years' imprisonment, to be released after serving eight months' imprisonment on a five-year Recognisance Release Order (RRO).
The man also received a two-year probation order that was attached to the Recognisance Release Order.
The Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team comprises members from the AFP and Queensland Police Service.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation 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.
