Toowoomba man to face court over allegedly possessing child abuse material
Editor's Note: An image related to this investigation is available via Hightail.
A 28-year-old Toowoomba man is due to appear in court today (9 April 2021) to face child exploitation offences following an Australian Federal Police (AFP) child protection investigation.
Officers from the Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) executed a search warrant at an address in Newtown, Toowoomba on 22 September 2020, after receiving a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States.
The report indicated a person, believed to be in Queensland, was uploading child abuse material using Snapchat.
During the search of the Newtown home officers located a mobile phone, allegedly containing child abuse material. A laptop and external hard drive were also located and removed for forensic analysis.
The man was issued a notice to appear before court for allegedly possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years imprisonment.
He is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today via videolink.
AFP Detective Superintendent Child Protection Operations Paula Hudson said the AFP works tirelessly with international law enforcement partners to keep children safe.
“No child anywhere in the world should be victimised because of the perverted desires of some people in our community,” Detective Superintendent Hudson said.
"The AFP will never relinquish our duty to protect children online, and this is a reminder to those who seek to harm children or spread abusive material - we will find you."
Members of the public who have any information about this network or 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.
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
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