Strike Force Trawler investigators have charged a man from Sydney’s north west following an investigation into alleged online grooming.
Last month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Sydney’s north west.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with the 39-year-old mother of a nine-year-old girl and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform on the child and sent sexually explicit material.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested a 39-year-old man at a home at Baulkham Hills, about 8am today (Wednesday 23 September 2020).
Shortly after, a search warrant was executed at the home, where detectives seized mobile phones, laptops and electronic storage devices.
All items will undergo further forensic examination.
The man was taken to Castle Hill Police Station and charged with three counts of use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse and use carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex with another.
He appeared at Parramatta Local Court today, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Friday 27 November 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.
