A man, 44, was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday 4 April) to three years behind bars for charges relating to bestiality and child abuse material.
The man pleaded guilty to nine offences in the Melbourne County Court, including:
- One count of bestiality contrary to s54(1)(a) of the Crimes Act (Vic);
- Six counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material contrary to s474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to self, contrary to s474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service contrary to s474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He was sentenced to three years and three months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 26 months. The man was placed on the Sex Offenders Registry for life.
On Wednesday 14 July 2021, the Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (VIC JACET), comprising members from the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police, executed a search warrant at the man’s Wimmera property.
Investigators located child abuse material on two phones seized during the search warrant.
A total 43 images and 13 videos containing child abuse material were identified across the two phones. This included one video containing explicit bestiality content involving the offender.
Leading Senior Constable Christopher Spillane said the Victorian JACET team will continue to work together to track down and prosecute anyone who seeks to bring harm to any child.
“Today’s sentencing should serve as a warning that law enforcement is dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court,” L/S/Const Spillane said.
“Our investigators are relentless in their pursuit of anyone sharing, accessing or producing child abuse material.”
“But we will always need the community’s help to ensure we are effective in identifying victims and perpetrators.”
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.
