AFP logo at EBB Canberra

News Centre

Our latest media releases, podcasts and stories
15 June 2020, 5:10pm
Media Release

Tasmanian sentenced over child abuse, bestiality material

A 20-year-old Devonport man has today been jailed in relation to child abuse and bestiality material offences.

The man was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 10 months in the Hobart Supreme Court today (Monday 15th June, 2020), after he repeatedly obtained, accessed and transmitted child abuse and exploitation material, along with possessing products relating to bestiality.

The Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) arrested and charged the man on December 19, 2019, following a 10-month investigation.

Investigators also executed a search warrant on the offender’s Devonport home, seizing a number of electronic items.

The man was charged with the following offences:

  • Possessing child abuse material accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
  • Obtaining child abuse material for use through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.23 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
  • Using a carriage service to access material, being child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
  • Using a carriage service to transmit / make available material, being child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
  • 3 counts: Possessing of child exploitation material, contrary to section 130C of the Criminal Code 1924 (TAS);
  • Possessing bestiality product, contrary to section 74 of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1995 (TAS);
  • Using a carriage service to cause child pornography to be transmitted to the person, contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(ii);

The Tasmanian JACET comprises of members of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Tasmania Police.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Note to media: USE OF TERM 'CHILD ABUSE', NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'

Use of the phrase "child pornography" 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 captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not "pornography".

Media enquiries

AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297