Katoomba man convicted following investigation into sexually explicit chats with children online
Editor's note: Vision from the arrest in January 2021 is available for download.
A 43-year-old Katoomba man received a two year and 10 months conviction in the Katoomba District Court on Friday (18 February 2022) following an Australian Federal Police investigation into a Pinterest user engaging in sexually explicit chats with children online.
The AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in September 2020 about explicit chats involving a user based in Australia.
The Katoomba man was arrested on 11 January 2021 by members of the AFP Eastern Command – Child Protection Operations Team and charged with two counts of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communications with a person under 16 years, contrary to section 474.27A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
Further details into this arrest are located on the AFP website – Blue Mountains man charged with indecent conversations with a child online.
The man pleaded guilty to the two charges on 15 October 2021.
He received a recognizance release order for 19 months ending 20 September 2023 and will be subject to strict conditions listed by the Court.
AFP Detective Sergeant Jarryd Dunbar said with children spending an increasing amount of time online and on social media applications, it is more important than ever for parents and guardians to be aware of the dangers of the online environment.
"There are small things you can do to protect your children from online predators, including understanding the applications your children are using and checking the privacy settings where location settings and chat functions can be switched off," Detective Sergeant Dunbar said.
"If your child or a child in your care is at risk, you can report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and if they are in immediate danger, please call Triple Zero (000) or your local police on 131 444."
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.
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 is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available.
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 Media: (02) 5126 9297