A Darwin man has been sentenced to a maximum of six years’ imprisonment after being found in possession of more than 5,000 explicit images of young children.
The man, 41, pleaded guilty to a total of 11 offences, including producing, accessing and possessing child abuse material, after a Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET) investigation.
The man will be eligible for parole on 5 April 2027, having already served 12 months in prison.
The NT JACET investigation into the man began in 2023, after the AFP received 49 reports from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user in the Northern Territory sending child abuse material via social media.
The NT JACET, comprising investigators from AFP and Northern Territory Police, linked the man to the online offending. Police located more than 5,000 images of toddlers and young victims stored on the man’s SD card and mobile devices.
He was arrested and charged by AFP officers in September 2023.
AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said the creation, sharing and possession of child abuse material was abhorrent and had long-lasting impacts on the lives of victimised children.
“The AFP is working tirelessly with our state, territory, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners to protect children – no matter where they live,” Supt Davis said.
“The AFP, along with our law enforcement partners, is dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court.
“Investigations such as this should serve as a serious warning that law enforcement has zero tolerance for child exploitation and child sexual abuse in any form.”
For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit the ACCCE website.
