A man will face court charged over the alleged online procurement of a child following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler detectives in the Lower Hunter Valley.
In March this year, detectives began engaging online with a man from Maitland.
Police will allege the man believed he was speaking with a 13-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sex acts he wished to perform on the teenager and shared sexually explicit material with her.
It will also be alleged that the man arranged to meet the girl in person.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 36-year-old man at Waratah Railway Station about 10.10am on Tuesday the 12th of May.
A subsequent search warrant was executed at the man’s home address, where mobile phones, tablets, a laptop and a hard drive were seized by officers.
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with using a carriage service to procure person under 16 years for sexual activity.
The man was refused bail and appeared via video link at Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday the 12th May, and is next due to appear at the same court on Wednesday 13th May.
