Kempsey man in court charged with online child abuse offences

Police allege the Mid-North Coast man was contacting children in America and sent money in exchange for abuse images and videos.

Kempsey Police Station.

A NSW man appeared in Kempsey Local Court on Friday charged with multiple online child abuse offences.

Australian police were first tipped off to the alleged activity by the United States’ Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

It alleged the Australian national, Christopher Seam, was contacting children in the United States to produce and share child abuse material.

Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) allegedly linked the 27-year-old man from Kempsey to the illegal online activity.

A search warrant was executed at Seam’s Kempsey home on Thursday, May 4, with investigators allegedly finding child abuse material on an electronic device.

A police dog helps in the search at Kempsey.

The device will be subject to further forensic examination.

It is alleged Seam had direct message conversations with a child under 16, which indicate the man sent money to the child in exchange for self-generated child abuse videos and photos.

Seam was arrested and taken to Kempsey Police Station where he was charged with multiple child abuse offences.

AFP Detective Acting Sergeant Adam Barcham said sexual images taken by a person under the age of 18 are considered child abuse material.

“Children can be groomed into producing child abuse material and sharing sexualised images and videos of themselves with child predators they’ve spoken to online,” Mr Barcham said.

“It is important parents start open conversations with their children about the content they are sharing online. If your child is in imminent risk, call Triple Zero.”

Kempsey Local Court House

Parents and carers can also report any instances to police by calling 131 444, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation at www.accce.gov.au/report.

Homeland Security Investigations regional attaché Ernest Verina said the organisation is committed to protecting children and works tirelessly to target and identify anyone who seeks to harm them.

“HSI values the unwavering partnership and the significant work the Australian Federal Police do in protecting children around the world.”

Seam was charged with:

- One count of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to person under 16 years of age.

- One count of cause child abuse material to be transmitted to self, using a carriage service.

- Two counts of possess or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.

- One count of using a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years of age (with sender).

The maximum penalty for the first offence is 10 years’ imprisonment, with the remainder each being a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.

Seam was granted bail under strict conditions, to next appear in Kempsey Local Court on July 19.

The AFP and its partners are committed to making arrests in relation exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combating child abuse.

The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into allegations of online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety.

Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.