Adelaide man, 49, jailed for online child abuse offences
This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and South Australia Police
An Adelaide man who had videos and images of young children being sexually abused stored on his phone and sought young girls overseas for sexual activity has been sentenced today (16 August 2021) to three years and four months jail.
The 49-year-old man had earlier pleaded guilty to three charges - using a carriage service to access child abuse material, possessing child abuse material and using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
The South Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team – comprising Australian Federal Police and South Australia Police officers - arrested and charged the man on 7 December 2020 after an investigation sparked by a report from the United States’ National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.
NCMEC forwarded a complaint about a Kik Messenger user uploading child abuse material and AFP officers identified the user as the 49-year-old.
When SA JACET officers searched the man’s home, they found messages stored on electronic devices in relation to sourcing children in Thailand for sexual activity.
They also found close to 9000 media files of child abuse material, including videos of infants being sexually assaulted by men and women.
The Adelaide District Court sentenced the man to three years and four months imprisonment with a 12-month non-parole period.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protection children online can be found at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
Note to media:
Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'
The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase "child pornography" is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
- indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
- conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
Media enquiries:
AFP National Media: (02) 5126 9297