A Central Coast man is facing charges of accessing child abuse material and grooming a minor online.
An investigation began on May 13, after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) received a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about child abuse material being uploaded to a social media platform.
The AFP allegedly linked a Charmhaven man, 36, to the illegal activity.
A search warrant was executed at the man’s home on May 14 and a mobile phone was seized.
An examination of the phone revealed allegedly sexualised conversations with a female minor.
The man was charged with: One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and one count of using a carriage service to groom a person under 16, contrary to section 474.27(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each offence is 15 years’ imprisonment.
The man was refused bail in Wyong Local Court on May 15 and is scheduled to appear in the same court again on July 8.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Glen Evans said children deserved to feel safe and should not be exploited for the gratification of others.
“This offending is traumatic for victims and has a lifelong impact,” he said.
“Criminals who possess and share this abhorrent material are warned – you will be identified, located and prosecuted.
“We thank … our investigators who work tirelessly to protect children.”
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australia Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach.
Anyone with information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE (https://www.accce.gov.au/report) and if you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
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