A man is due to face court today charged with 21 child abuse offences, over alleged online child exploitation in the Hunter.
In September 2019, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from the Hunter.
Police allege the man believed he was speaking with the 37-year-old mother of a nine-year-old girl and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform on the child.
It is also alleged the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sex acts he wished to perform on the teenager.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested the 34-year-old man at a Hunter home just after 11am on Thursday 30th April.
Shortly after the arrest, a search warrant was executed at the home, where detectives seized a mobile phone and electronic storage devices.
The man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with 21 offences including;
- use carriage service to
groom under 16 years for sex,
- use carriage service
transmit/publish/promote child abuse (x19),
- possess child abuse
material.
Anyone with concerns about the suspected abuse or exploitation of children is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
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| Detectives arrest a 34-year-old man in the Hunter accused of grooming a child for sex |