A man has been jailed for 12 years for multiple child sex offences committed across a three-year period while employed in out-of-school-hours (OOSH) care services across Sydney.
The Artarmon man, 27, was sentenced by the Downing Centre District Court today (2 July, 2026) to a non-parole period of seven years.
An AFP investigation identified the man used his employment at six OOSH services to commit sexual offences against 10 victims, aged six and under, between April 2021 and May 2024.
The offending included carrying out sexual acts with children and producing child abuse material.
The investigation began in July 2024, after the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) commenced inquiries into first-generation child abuse material detected on the dark web by the Queensland Police Service.
A search warrant was executed at an Artarmon home in September 2024, where the man's mobile phone and electronic devices were seized. He was subsequently charged after he refused to provide access to his mobile phones.
In September 2024, digital forensic investigators gained access to the man's devices and located 22 child abuse images. The man was re-arrested and charged with additional child sex offences.
A comprehensive victim identification process took place between October 2024 and July 2025, in which all identified impacted families were contacted by the AFP, with support services offered by NSW Health.
In 2025 a Local Contact Point (LCP) process, in line with the Joint Child Protection Response Program Local Contact Point Protocol and under the guidelines of the Royal Commission, was established.
The LCP was facilitated by the NSW Police Force, NSW Health, NSW Department of Communities and Justice with support from the AFP, NSW Department of Education as the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority (now the NSW Early Learning Commission) and the Office of the Children's Guardian.
In December 2025, the man pleaded guilty to 12 offences:
Four counts of aggravated use of child under 14 to make child abuse material, contrary to section 91G(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
Three counts of carrying out a sexual act with child under 16 years filmed for production of child abuse material, contrary to s66DF(a) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
Three counts of producing child abuse material, contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW); and
One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
One count of contravene requirements of a s3LA order when the warrant relates to a serious offence, contrary to section 3LA(6) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth).
AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham acknowledged the gravity of today's sentencing on affected families and the broader community.
"This has been a deeply distressing matter for the children, their families and carers, and the community," Det Supt Needham said.
"The AFP, alongside our state and Commonwealth partners, worked tirelessly to painstakingly identify every child victim and ensure they each received the appropriate level of care.
"These crimes involved the deliberate exploitation of young children and a profound abuse of trust by someone in a position of responsibility. It is heinous offending which has no place in our community.
"These investigations are a priority for the AFP - I am extremely proud of the dedication and persistence of our highly-skilled investigators across this investigation.
"The AFP will continue to dedicate as much time and resources as needed to prevent and take action against individuals who commit these horrific crimes.
"We know this type of news can re-traumatise survivors of sexual abuse, and, please, I urge those survivors to seek support, or talk to a trusted network, if today's news has caused distress."
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 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 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.
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.
