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A man from Sydney’s Northern Beaches has been charged with alleged online grooming following an investigation by the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Investigation Unit (CEIU).
In January 2022, investigators from the CEIU’s Strike Force Trawler began engaging online with a man from Beacon Hill.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a woman who had a daughter under 10-years-old.
The man allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations about the woman’s child and other children under the age of 18.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 40-year-old man at a home at Beacon Hill about 7.40am today (Thursday 17 February 2022).
The man was taken to Manly Police Station, where he was charged with use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse.
He was refused bail and was due to appear today at Manly Local Court.
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.
