A 72-year-old man, who had been previously sentenced for child abuse offences, was yesterday (16 June 2022) re-sentenced to almost 11 years’ imprisonment by the Darwin Supreme Court.
The Darwin man was previously sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for multiple offences relating to using, transmitting and possessing child abuse material and attempting to procure a person under 16 years of age for sexual activity.
The man was released in April 2021 after serving his minimum sentence and began engaging in child abuse offences shortly after.
In July 2021, investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) commenced an investigation into the man through the use of an online covert operative, who the man believed was a mother with a 9-year-old daughter.
During his conversations with the operative, he engaged in grooming activities, transmitted child abuse material and suggested the minor create a separate online profile that their mother would not have access to.
On 23 August 2021, investigators from the Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team executed a search warrant at the man’s home, where officers seized evidence of the offending.
Further examination of the digital evidence seized revealed additional offences in relation to online chats with other minors.
AFP Detective Sergeant Richard Matejic said this case should be a warning to people who were trying to prey on children online.
“The AFP and our partners have officers working on a range of platforms online to identify people trying to harm children,” Det-Sgt Matejic said.
“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual offenders and the next ‘child’ you try to exploit could instead be a police officer.”
The man was convicted of 11 offences:
- two counts of using a carriage service to transmit a communication to the recipient, with the intention of making it easier to procure a child, being someone the Defendant believed to be under the age of 16 years of age, to engage in sexual activity with the Defendant, pursuant to section 474.27AA(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- two counts of using a carriage service to transmit a communication to the recipient, being someone the Defendant believed to be under the age of 16 years of age, with the intention of making it easier to procure the recipient to engage in sexual activity with himself, pursuant to section 474.27(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- four counts of transmitting material, using a carriage service, the material being child abuse material, pursuant to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- one count of using a carriage service to transmit a communication to the recipient, being someone who the Defendant believed to be under 16 years of age, which included material that is indecent, pursuant to section 474.27A(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- one count of possessing or controlling material, being child abuse material, in the form of data held in a computer or contained in a data storage device and the Defendant used a carriage service to obtain or access the material pursuant to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- one count of failing, without reasonable excuse, to comply with his reporting obligations pursuant to section 48 of the Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Registration) Act 2004 (NT).
He was sentenced to a total term of 10 years’ and 10 months’ imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of five years and three months.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation 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 and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety.
An award-winning podcast launched last year by the ACCCE ‘Closing The Net’ is working to change that, showcasing that knowledge is power and that our only chance to help prevent this issue is if we bring a ‘whole-of-community’ response.
The podcast series offers valuable tips and advice on how to keep kids safe online. Listen to the Closing The Net podcast on your favourite streaming platform.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
