A man will appear at court today charged over alleged online grooming following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler detectives.
In September this year, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Sydney's south west.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old boy and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform on the child and sent sexually explicit material.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested a 59-year-old man at a home at Yagoona about midday yesterday (Tuesday 10 November 2020).
The man was taken to Bankstown Police Station and charged with use carriage service to procure child under 16 years for sexual activity and two counts of use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse.
He was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court today (Wednesday 11 November 2020).
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.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation 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. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
