This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Western Australia Police.
A 35-year-old man was sentenced to three years and two months' imprisonment by the Perth District Court yesterday (9 March 2021) for online child abuse-related offences, including possessing videos of infants being sexually abused.
The Canning Vale man was charged in May 2020 after the Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) investigated a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The report alleged an internet user in Australia had uploaded several digital media files depicting children being abused to an online social media platform.
The WA JACET, which comprises AFP and WA Police officers, identified the 35-year-old as the suspected account holder and executed a search warrant at his home in May 2020.
Investigators charged him with possession of child abuse material they found on his electronic devices and later charged him with a further 28 offences after a digital forensic review of those devices.
On 6 November 2020, the 35-year-old pled guilty to all 29 charges:
- Twenty-five counts of using a carriage service for child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). These offences pre-date 2019 legislative changes;
- Two counts of possession of child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service for child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of possessing or copying an obscene article, contrary to section 59(5) of the Classification Enforcement Act (WA).
The man has been ordered to serve two years' imprisonment before he is eligible to apply for parole and he was also fined $1000 for possession of an obscene article.
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.
//
