Editor’s note:Images from the search warrant are available via Hightail.
A Brisbane man was yesterday (15 September) sentenced to four years and nine months’ imprisonment by the Brisbane District Court for a range of child abuse offences.
The investigation began when the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received 15 reports from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material to a single Google Drive account.
AFP investigators linked the man to the illegal online activity.
A search warrant was executed at the man’s West End home in April 2022, where he was arrested and devices seized that contained child abuse material, including a mobile phone and two hard drives.
A second search warrant was executed in Brisbane City on 20 April 2022, where investigators seized a fourth electronic device containing child abuse material.
After being released on bail, the man failed to attend court in September 2022 and was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of breaching bail, contrary to section 29(1) of the Bail Act (QLD). He has since remained in custody.
Police seized another mobile phone during this arrest after locating further evidence of child abuse material on the device.
Detective Acting Inspector Tim Murphy said the charges demonstrated the AFP's commitment to investigate and charge offenders believed to be involved in child exploitation and sexual abuse.
“This outcome should serve as a warning that law enforcement is dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court,” Detective Acting Inspector Murphy said.
“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators, and our investigators will continue to be relentless in their pursuit of anyone sharing or accessing child abuse material.
“Anyone who views this material is committing a crime.”
The man pleaded guilty to:
- Three counts of accessing child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of possessing child abuse material obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of making available child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He was sentenced to four years and nine months by the Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday (15 September. 2023), with a non-parole period of two years.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the 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.