NT man, 56, charged for allegedly possessing child abuse material

A Territory man has faced court on five child abuse material charges after his alleged behaviour was flagged by an international watchdog.

A Territorian is facing five child abuse material charges in Darwin.

A middle-aged Territorian has faced court for five child abuse material charges after an international watchdog flagged his alleged “illegal online activity” to the Australian Federal Police.

AFP Acting Commander Greg Davis said the NT Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team was alerted to the 56-year-old’s behaviour by the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

Commander Davis said police used a warrant to search the man’s home on Tuesday where they allegedly found child abuse material on his electronic devices.

“Anyone who views this material is committing a crime,’’ he said.

“Our message to online offenders has not changed – if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.

“This is not a victimless crime.

“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators.”

The man appeared in Darwin Local Court on Wednesday for five charges, including using a carriage service to transmit, solicit, and access child abuse material, using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material to a person under 16, and possessing or controlling child abuse material.

Commander Davis said the man’s electronic devices had been seized for further forensic examination.

He said the man was remanded in custody and would reappear in court on August 20.

Commander Davis said the man’s charges each carried a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.

Originally published as NT man, 56, charged for allegedly possessing child abuse material