Melbourne man jailed for child abuse material offences
A Melbourne man has been jailed for soliciting, transmitting and possessing child abuse material via a social media platform in 2020.
The man, 26, was sentenced to one year and six months’ imprisonment at Melbourne County Court on Wednesday, 31 August 2022.
The man was arrested as part of an investigation launched after the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received information from United States authorities in relation to an online user sharing child abuse material online.
The Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team, comprising members from the AFP and Victoria Police, conducted an investigation and executed a search warrant at the man’s Melbourne CBD apartment in October 2020.
The man was arrested and his mobile phone seized when digital forensic analysis found child abuse material.
The man was charged with and pled guilty to:
- Using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material contrary to section 22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iv) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- Possessing child abuse material obtained using a carriage service contrary to section 22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The man was sentenced to a total of 18 months’ imprisonment, to be released on a Recognisance Order after serving six months’ imprisonment.
The man was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
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.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report
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.
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