Christopher Blok: Kangaroo Flat man shared child exploitation material online

A Central Victorian man who was arrested during an international police operation has admitted he shared sick child abuse material on social media.

A Central Victorian man’s sick collection of child exploitation was uncovered after an international police operation, a Bendigo court has heard. 

Christopher Blok, 61, appeared in Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, pleading guilty to possessing and using a carriage service to share child abuse material.

Previously the court heard Block was arrested at his Kangaroo Flat home on June 17 after the AFP and Victoria Police were notified about inappropriate material being shared with other users on Facebook.

The suspicious online activity first came to the attention of the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in the United States in November 2020. 

Police were able to link 15 videos showing young boys and girls in sexual poses to the IP address and Facebook profile of Blok. 

On Wednesday, prosecutor Declan Holmes withdrew a charge of accessing child abuse material as part of a plea deal with Blok’s defence lawyer Robert Morgan.

He will appear in Bendigo County Court for sentencing on March 15 by magistrate Trieu Huynh who extended Blok’s bail on similar terms until that date. 

Mr Huynh said the man’s passport had been surrendered to authorities and he was barred from leaving Victoria. 

His internet usage is restricted to work, education and legal advice and is banned from being in the company of children without a guardian present. 

AFP Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling previously said the case highlights how closely Commonwealth, state and international law enforcement agencies work together to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.

“Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live, and ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts,” he said.