Man in court over online child procurement at Blacktown, NSW

A man will appear in court today charged by Strike Force Trawler detectives following an investigation into the online grooming and procuring of a child.

In March 2019, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Blacktown.

Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 13-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually-explicit acts he wished to perform on the child and sent explicit material.

It will also be alleged that the man arranged to meet the girl in person.

Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested a 67-year-old man at Westmead about 10am today (Thursday 25 June 2020).

Shortly after, investigators searched the man’s car, before executing a search warrant at a home at Blacktown, where a mobile phone and computer were seized.

The man was taken to Parramatta Police Station and charged with use carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex, use carriage service to send indecent material, use carriage service to procure under 16 years for sexual activity and never licensed person drive vehicle on road.

He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Thursday 25 June 2020).

Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.

Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.

The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.

Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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