A man is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today (7 August, 2026) charged with allegedly grooming a child in the United Kingdom online.
The AFP began an investigation into the Leda man, 38, after receiving information from INTERPOL about a UK teenager reporting to police they had been groomed through a social media platform.
The teenager said they had a conversation with an online user on a messaging app, during which both parties allegedly sent and received explicit images.
It is alleged the online user was aware of the teenager’s age.
On Thursday 23 July, 2026, AFP members executed a search warrant at a Leda residence during which an iPhone, computer, and hard drive were seized for forensic examination.
The man was charged with using a carriage service to “groom” persons under 16 years’ of age, contrary to section 474.27 Criminal Code (Cth).
This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.
He received bail to appear in Perth Magistrates’ Court today.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Josh Gilmour said the AFP and its international partners were committed to combating online child exploitation.
“People who target children online should be under no illusion that they can hide behind a screen. The AFP and its law enforcement partners have the expertise and technology to identify offenders and hold them accountable before the courts,” Det a/Insp Gilmour said.
“Protecting children from exploitation and abuse remains a priority for the AFP, and we will continue working with our state, Commonwealth, and international partners to target, identify, investigate, and prosecute those responsible.”
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (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. 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.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
