A man has been charged following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler detectives into online child exploitation.
In July 2018, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) commenced an investigation following a referral from police in the United Kingdom.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with two girls, aged 10 and 12, and engaged in conversations about sexual acts he wished to perform on them.
Following extensive inquiries, a 39-year-old man was arrested by Strike Force Trawler detectives at a home in Mayfield West about 10.15am on Friday (11 January 2019).
During a search of the man and a search warrant at the home, investigators seized a mobile phone.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of use carriage service to send indecent material to person under 16 years of age.
He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 31 January 2019.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
Anyone with information about internet predators should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
