A 25-year-old Australian man who coerced a child into sending him self-produced child abuse material has been sentenced to three years and nine months’ jail by a Sydney court.
The Western Sydney man was arrested by Australian Federal Police (AFP) Eastern Command Child Protection Operations investigators in June 2020 as a result of Operation Albamarle.
The investigation began after the AFP received information from New Zealand Police about the exploitation of a local child by a man believed to be located in Sydney.
NZ Police found an offender had targeted the child on Instagram and sent explicit messages.
AFP and NZ Police investigators allegedly linked the 25-year-old to the communications and arrested him in June 2020 after executing a search warrant at his Baulkham Hills home. Police seized a number of electronic devices that allegedly showed the man had been in contact with a number of children over a three-year period.
The man was initially charged with using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.27A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
He was later charged with additional offences and in October 2021, the man pleaded guilty to the following offences:
- 15 counts of use carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.27A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Two counts of use carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The man was sentenced to three years and nine months’ jail in Parramatta District Court yesterday. He will be eligible for parole after serving one year and 11 months.
Detective Sergeant Jarryd Dunbar said the investigation showed how closely the AFP worked with its overseas counterparts to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.
“Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live. People who choose to use the internet to target children can be rest assured that the global law enforcement community are watching and we are resolute in our mission to protect children from online exploitation,” Det Sgt Dunbar said.
