A man will appear in court today charged over the alleged abuse of a teenage girl and online grooming of another girl in the Illawarra region.
In February 2020, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from the Illawarra region.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually-explicit acts he wished to perform on the child.
During the investigation, strike force detectives received information from officers at Lake Illawarra Police District that the man had allegedly detained a 15-year-old girl – who was known to him – at a home in Port Kembla in December 2018.
Following extensive inquiries, Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad detectives arrested a 43-year-old man outside a home in Port Kembla just after 6pm yesterday (Thursday 13 February 2020).
A mobile phone was seized and will undergo extensive examination.
The man was taken to Port Kembla Police Station where he was charged with take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage, use carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex and use carriage service to send indecent material.
Police will also allege in court that the man was also speaking with a 13-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually-explicit acts he wished to perform on the child.
He was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court today (Friday 14 February 2020).
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.
