A man has been charged in relation to online grooming and soliciting child abuse material following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler.
In April 2021, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Sydney’s inner 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.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 48-year-old man at Westmead about 12.20pm yesterday (Monday 17 May 2021).
A short time later, a search warrant was executed at a home at Breakfast Point, where detectives seized a number of electronic devices which will undergo further examination.
The man was taken to Granville Police Station and charged with use carriage service to procure child under 16 years for sexual activity.
He was refused bail and is due to appear at Fairfield Local Court today (Tuesday 18 May 2021).
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.
