Strike Force Trawler detectives have charged a Western Sydney man over the alleged procurement of a child online.
In December 2018, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Sydney's west.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexual acts he wished to perform on the child.
It will also be alleged that the man suggested he form a relationship with the girl's mother to gain access to the child before making arrangements to meet the child for sex.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested a 52-year-old man near Westmead Railway Station about 9.15am yesterday (Thursday 28 February 2019).
A search warrant was executed at a property in Colyton, where investigators seized various electronic devices. These items will undergo forensic examination.
The man was taken to Parramatta Police Station, where he was charged with use a carriage service to procure person under 16 years of age for sexual activity.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Friday 1 March 2019).
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
Anyone with information about internet predators should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
