A Sydney man has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment after being convicted of possessing and transmitting child abuse material.
The Downing Centre Local Court today (6 May, 2026) ordered the man, 59, serve a non-parole period of three months' imprisonment.
An investigation began after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted the Coogee man and conducted a baggage examination when he arrived in Sydney on an international flight in December, 2024.
During the baggage examination, ABF officers located child abuse material on his electronic devices and reported the matter to the AFP for investigation.
AFP Eastern Command Child Protection investigators executed a search warrant at the man's home and found child abuse material on his electronic devices. Further forensic examination of the devices revealed he had used a carriage service to transmit child abuse material.
The man was charged with:
- One count of possess or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of cause child abuse material to be transmitted to self using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said the AFP would continue to pursue offenders who preyed on children.
"Protecting children from abuse and exploitation is a priority for the AFP, and we are relentless in our efforts to identify, disrupt and hold offenders to account," Det Supt Needham said.
"The AFP targets anyone involved in the production, distribution or possession of this deeply disturbing material."
ABF Superintendent Elke West said the ABF had zero tolerance for the importation, possession, or distribution of child abuse material.
"Behind every image is a child who has been exploited - these are serious offences with real and lasting harm," Supt West said.
"ABF officers are highly trained to identify and intercept child abuse material at the border using advanced screening and intelligence capabilities."
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 at www.accce.gov.au/report. 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 at www.accce.gov.au/support.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. 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.
