Operation Arkstone: Tregear man pleads guilty to 19 child sexual abuse, sharing abuse material, bestiality

A Western Sydney paedophile, who’s vile child abuse began on the Central Coast before spreading to teens in regional towns, will learn his fate after a date was set for his sentence.

A 29-year-old man, who molested young boys and even sexually abused his own dog, will be sentenced in November after his matter was mentioned in Gosford District Court.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not required to appear via video link from custody when his matter was listed in court on Thursday.

His solicitor told the court she had ordered a psychological report and sought a long enough adjournment to ensure the report would be available at the time of her client’s sentencing.

The court heard the sentence hearing had a two-hour estimate and was set down for November 25.

PREVIOUSLY FROM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24

A Tregear man — with a fantasy for “big brother” role playing — sexually abused young boys on the Central Coast, Sydney and Bathurst between 2013 and 2020, sharing images and videos of the abuse with other perverts.

The 29-year-old man, who cannot be identified, started sexually abusing at 21 with a boy aged just four years old.

The man appeared before Gosford Local Court where his lawyer entered pleas of guilty to 19 charges.

The charges included sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10, two counts of sexual intercourse with a child aged over 10 and under the age of 14, three counts of indecent assault of person under the age of 16, use child under 14 to make child abuse material and charges relating to possessing, transmitting, publishing and controlling child abuse material using a carriage service.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of attempt bestiality and meet/travel to meet child/groom for sexual activity.

The court heard that a further 111 related charges were withdrawn and dismissed.

Magistrate Jennifer Price listed the matter for sentence before the Gosford District Court and ordered a sentence assessment report.

An agreed set of facts tendered to the court reveals the extent of the horrific offending between 2013 and 2021 in four regional cities.

The man was detected and arrested as part of Operation Arkstone which has uncovered a wide online network of Australian and foreign nationals sharing child abuse and bestiality material.

When officers carried out a search of the man and his home, they found three mobile phones with child abuse material. On one phone they discovered 105 images and seven videos of child abuse material.

The facts stated that the offending against the first victim happened in Narara on the Central Coast when the victim was aged between four and six and the man was 21-23.

The man “self-produced” child abuse material using the victim which started with him masturbating in front of him and eventuated in horrendous sexual abuse over a number of years.

When officers interviewed the victim in March 2021, he told them the man would shake his “rude part” and kiss him on the lips with offences happening when his mum and dad were out. He was initially too scared to tell his parents.

“He’s happy that he’s not going to see the offender for a long time,” the facts stated.

“He told police that when he was telling the story to his parents about what happened he felt sick, like he was going to vomit.”

The man appeared in Gosford Local Court.

A review of the man’s phone showed that he shared images and videos of the victim with other people online via apps such as Telegram and Grindr which would include violent discussions about raping young boys.

“Dude, I wish I had a young boy in my life,” a man, who received the images, said.

“You can use mine,” the man replied.

The man met the second victim, who was aged 13, on Instagram and said to him “damn bro you’re cute”.

They exchanged messages and sexual images before the man convinced the teen to meet up at Plumpton Park toilets. The man took videos of their sexual interaction, also sharing these online.

The victim told police the man gave him $150 and he “didn’t like what happened”.

The third victim, aged 14, was the son of the man’s work colleague who he sexually abused while camping at a sporting event in Bathurst.

The facts stated that the man also engaged in sexual acts with his dog.

When police interviewed the man after his arrest, he told them he became interested in young children in his late teens and enjoyed role playing the “younger brother/big brother” scenario.

He admitted sending videos and images overseas and said he was too scared too seek help.

“I understand it’s still bad,” he said.

He told police the sexual acts with the first victim were “just minor stuff” however said he felt “s**t” about it.

The man will appear in the Gosford District Court on September 1.