Hunter man charged with 21 child abuse offences after strike force investigation
Police began engaging with a man last September, and a lengthy investigation led to a raid on his Hunter Valley home on Thursday. The 34-year-old was arrested and charged with 21 child abuse offences.
Newcastle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Newcastle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Accused drug dealer to face court over 430g of MDMA
- Prisoners riot over drug shortage at Cessnock jail
A Hunter man charged with 21 child abuse offences, following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler detectives into alleged online child exploitation in the state’s Hunter Region, has been refused bail.
In September 2019, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from the Hunter Valley.
Police allege the man believed he was speaking with the 37-year-old mother of a girl, 9, and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform on the child.
Police allege the man also believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sex acts he wished to perform on the teenager.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested the 34-year-old at a home in the Hunter region just after 11am on Thursday.
Shortly after the arrest, a search warrant was executed at the home, where detectives seized a mobile phone and electronic storage devices.
The man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with use carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex, 19 counts of use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse and possess child abuse material.
In Newcastle Local Court on Friday, the man appeared via video link where his solicitor made an application for bail.
He told the court, his client had significant financial obligations relating to his family, had strong community ties and nothing of this nature on his record.
The man’s solicitor also stated his client suffered from chronic asthma which would make him particularly vulnerable in custody.
Strict bail conditions were offered up, which included living at an address in Toronto, obeying a curfew and no use of any social media, websites or applications.
He also made an application for a non-publication order to stop media from identifying his client.
He cited publication of his name would cause him to be a target of other inmates, and as his family was living in a small town an interim order would be appropriate.
The prosecution opposed his bail application telling the court the accused was a danger to individuals, especially children given the serious nature of the charges.
“He made sexual comments to the daughter about sex, cunnilingus and fellatio,” the prosecutor said.
“Police used another identity as a 14-year-old and he made comments regarding anal, sex and fellatio. His phone was found with child abuse material.
“The strength of the case is overwhelming and a custodial sentence is inevitable.”
Magistrate Sharon Crews agreed and said the facts were serious and concerning about his intentions and refused bail.
But Magistrate Crews did grant an interim non-publication order on the man’s identity.
His matter has been adjourned until July.