A 46-year-old Western Sydney man has been sentenced to three years' jail after being charged by the Australian Federal Police for accessing, possessing and transmitting child abuse material.
The man was sentenced at Parramatta District Court today (8 October 2021) after pleading guilty on 25 June (2021) to three child abuse-related charges:
- Possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Transmitting child pornography material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.19(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- Accessing child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
Another two charges laid against the man for using a carriage service to access child abuse material and child pornography, were taken into account as part of the sentencing.
The AFP Eastern Command Child Protection Operations (CPO) team began investigating the man's activities after the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) provided a report about an online user obtaining videos of children being tortured and sexually abused.
Investigators charged the man on 1 September 2020 after executing a search warrant at his home in the Sydney suburb of Fairfield. Police seized several electronic devices that were found to contain photos and videos of children being sexually abused.
The man was refused bail at the time of his arrest and has been in custody since September 2020.
He will be eligible for release on a four-year recognisance order from 1 July 2022.
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said there was no crime more horrific than child sexual abuse, which was why the Government was taking the threat so seriously.
"The Government recently passed important new legislation empowering police to take down dark web paedophile rings," Minister Andrews said.
"We also allocated $59.9 million for the AFP in the Federal Budget, allowing it to further invest in new frontline operational activities and protect children. The Morrison Government will continue to give our police the power and resources they need to keep our kids safe and bring offenders to justice."
AFP Detective Sergeant Jarryd Dunbar said every view and share of child abuse material on a device feeds an industry operating on the most unimaginable acts of cruelty and abuse inflicted on children.
"There is no cause greater for our officers than ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable in our community," Det. Sgt Dunbar said.
"Our officers are driven to identifying and removing children in danger of further abuse and ensuring the people responsible for sustaining this horrific industry are brought to justice for their actions."
The ACCCE is committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and is at the centre of a collaborative national approach to combatting organised child abuse.
The Centre brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into child sexual abuse and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report.
