Former childcare worker accused of raping and abusing 91 girls brought undone by SA investigation into Shannon McCoole

One of Australia’s worst accused child-sex offenders was brought undone thanks to an investigation into an online network run by a notorious South Australian pedophile.

One of Australia’s worst accused child-sex offenders, who allegedly raped and abused 91 girls in childcare centres over 15 years, was brought undone thanks to an investigation into an online network run by a notorious South Australian pedophile.

The 45-year-old Gold Coast man allegedly committed 1600 offences at 10 Brisbane childcare centres, one centre in NSW and one overseas.

He was arrested in August last year after objects in the background of videos and photographs allegedly produced by the man were traced to a Brisbane childcare centre by the Australian Federal Police.

Material he allegedly produced was among a catalogue investigators combed through after dismantling The Love Zone – the international pedophile network run by SA ringleader Shannon McCoole.

A man accused of raping and abusing 91 girls in childcare centres was brought down by an investigation linked to notorious SA pedophile Shannon McCoole.

McCoole, a former Families SA worker, was arrested in June 2014 and sentenced to 35 years in prison with a non-parole period of 28 years.

In 2018, McCoole’s sentence was reduced for helping Danish authorities prosecute another pedophile.

His head sentence was reduced from 35 years to 32 years, while his non-parole period was reduced from 28 years to 26 years.

He was described as the “CEO” of an international child pornography website with more than 1000 members.

In his 2015 sentencing, District Court Judge Paul Rice called McCoole’s actions “evil and depraved”.

“It is not easy to put into words the reach of your offending,” he said.

“It has and will continue to have serious effects on your victims, although the extent of it remains uncertain.

“You have no moral compass. You were excited and sought sexual satisfaction, not just from touching very young children but also having sexual intercourse with infants. What would incline you to do such a thing is far beyond my comprehension. It engenders feelings of outrage and revulsion among right-thinking people.”

Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said every alleged Australian victim had been identified.

Videos and photographs allegedly produced by the 45-year-old Gold Coast man arrested last year were spotted on the dark web by investigators in 2014 after McCoole’s arrest in Adelaide.

The Gold Coast childcare worker was initially charged with making and distributing child-abuse material.

AFP and Queensland Police Service detectives poured over 4000 images allegedly found on the man’s phone and other electronic devices in the months after his arrest.

Victim identification experts identified 87 girls allegedly abused by the man in Australia.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said every Australian alleged victim had been identified and police were working with authorities overseas to identify the remaining four.

She said the names of the childcare centres would not be released to protect the children.

“I can assure members of the Australian public that if you have not been contacted by law enforcement, it is extremely unlikely your child was allegedly offended against by the man,” Ms Gough said.