SA man charged with possessing child-abuse material after Royal Mounted Canadian Police report
A tip-off from Royal Canadian Mounted Police has led to the arrest of a South Australian man accused of possessing child-abuse material. The AFP warns the exploitation of children is worsening.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A South Australian man has appeared in court accused of possessing “abhorrent” child-abuse material and sexualised chat intercepted by Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
His arrest comes as Australian Federal Police warn child exploitation crimes have worsened as predators are caught with tens of thousands’ more images and videos than 15 years ago.
The AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation launched an investigation into Craig John Frost, 36, of Kingston SE, last year after a tip-off from Canadian Mounties.
It is alleged Mounties discovered Frost, who was using an online forum, had received 12 files containing “abhorrent” child-abuse material from an overseas person.
The AFP further alleges the pair engaged in sexualised role play chat. The matter was referred to the SA Police Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team, which searched Frost’s home.
Investigators allegedly found a large amount of child-sex abuse material on electronic devices, which were seized for further analysis.
Frost was charged with two aggravated counts of possessing child exploitation material and one count of possessing or controlling child-abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.
He faced Millicent Magistrates Court on Friday, when he was remanded on continuing bail to appear in Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in September.
The offences carry maximum penalties of between seven and 15 years’ imprisonment.
Australian Federal Police acting Superintendent Gavin Stone said it continued to work tirelessly with South Australian and international counterparts to keep children safe.
“No child anywhere in the world should be victimised for the perverted desires of some people in our community,” acting Superintendent Stone said.
“Collaboration is key and we need parents to join us on the frontline by supervising their children’s internet use and talking to them about cyber safety.”
Acting Superintendent Stone said child exploitation crimes were getting worse and that the average number of images seized during an arrest was steadily increasing.
“In the early-to-mid 2000s, a child-sex predator had about 1000 images. Now offenders are found with between 10,000 to 80,000 images and videos,” he said.
SA Police Public Protection Branch officer-in-charge detective Superintendent Mark Wieszyk said investigators worked tirelessly to stop the exploitation of children and keep them safe.
Anyone who has information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation should contact Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online.
You can also make an online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.