AFP logo at EBB Canberra

News Centre

Our latest media releases, podcasts and stories
23 March 2023, 1:44pm
Media Release

NSW man charged with possessing child abuse material

Editor’s note: Audio grabs from AFP Senior Constable Craig Eickenloff are available via Hightail

A NSW Central Coast man appeared in Gosford Court yesterday (22 March, 2023) charged with possessing child abuse material.

AFP Eastern Command Child Protection investigators charged the man, 66, yesterday as part of an investigation that began when the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material to a Microsoft BingImage platform.

AFP investigators allegedly linked the man to the illegal online activity.

A search warrant was executed at the man’s Terrigal home yesterday, with investigators finding child abuse photos and videos on multiple hard drives and a laptop. The devices will be subject to further forensic examination.

AFP Senior Constable Craig Eickenloff said possessing child abuse material is not a victimless crime.

“Every click on a video or download of a photo fuels an industry surviving off the horrific abuse of children,” Senior Constable Eickenloff said.

“The AFP has strong lasting relationships with its international partners to continue identifying alleged offenders in Australia and bringing them to justice for their actions.”

The man was charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years' imprisonment.

He is scheduled to next appear in Gosford Court on 14 April, 2023.

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 are urged to contact the ACCCE at www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available at www.accce.gov.au/support.

Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. 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.

For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit www.accce.gov.au.

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

Connect with the AFP and ACCCE: Follow our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube pages to learn more about what the AFP does to keep Australia safe.

Follow the ACCCE Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages to learn more about what the ACCCE does to keep children safe online.