Operation Kedron: Darwin man, woman hit with 49 additional child abuse charges

A man and a woman accused of child exploitation offences in Darwin have been hit with a slew of additional charges – with police alleging they uncovered ‘truly abhorrent behaviour’.

Operation Kedron: Man and woman hit with additional child abuse charges in Darwin.

A man and a woman accused of child exploitation offences have been hit with a slew of additional charges – with police alleging they uncovered “truly abhorrent behaviour”.

The Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) first charged the man, aged 32, in Farrar on October 9 last year, and a 29-year-old woman in Johnson on October 22 as part of Operation Kedron.

On Friday morning police announced both had now been charged with a total of 49 additional child exploitation offences.

The woman, who was initially charged with five counts of producing child abuse material, gross indecency with a child under 14 and indecent touching or act with a child under 14, now has an additional 19 charges to her name.

The man has also been hit with an additional 30 child abuse offences.

JACET detectives will allege the man and woman knew each other and were planning further offending.

He was initially charged with counts of gross indecency with child under 14, produce child abuse material, possess child abuse material and destroy evidence.

The additional charges were not provided in the statement issued by NT Police.

Police allege the man and woman knew each other, and have since removed five children “from harm” as part of the investigation.

Commander Brendan Muldoon said Operation Kedron had been an “extensive operation that has uncovered some truly abhorrent behaviour”.

Mr Muldoon said JACET detectives would be alleging the man and woman were planning further offending.

“I commend the entire JACET team for their tireless work in investigating these offences and removing these alleged offenders from the community before more children were harmed,” he said.

Both are in custody with the man set to appear next in Darwin Local Court on January 29, and the woman on January 15.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://crimestoppers.com.au/.You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the ‘Report Abuse’ button at www.accce.gov.au/report.

Originally published as Operation Kedron: Darwin man, woman hit with 49 additional child abuse charges