869 photos, 24 videos: Fake cop ‘tricks’ mum into abusing child to ‘catch pedophiles’

A Toowoomba mother who assisted her partner in the repeated rape, drugging, and filming of her child for more than a year under the guise of a fake AFP court order to catch pedophiles online has been released from jail.

A Toowoomba woman has been sentenced after participating in the sexual assault of her daughter under the belief it was to help catch a pedophile.

A Toowoomba woman who facilitated and organised the sexual abuse, drugging, and rape of her 14-year-old daughter has been released from prison after she was sentenced on the basis that her partner tricked her into committing the crime.

When the mother was sentenced before Toowoomba District Court in December, the court was told she believed an Australian Federal Police officer issued her child with a court order requiring her to create and submit child exploitation material to catch pedophiles online.

Over a 14-month period, the woman created 869 images and 24 videos of child exploitation videos and sent it to the ‘AFP police officer’ through Facebook Messenger.

The Toowoomba woman in her 40 who helped her plan the rape her 14-year-old daughter after being tricked to do so by a fake police officer has been released from jail.

The vile abuse included instances where the mother arranged for her partner to rape the young teenager, however there was no evidence before the courts to suggest the woman participated in or was present during the physical sex acts.

The court was told on one occasion the woman made arrangements for her partner to abuse her child, but after sending the footage to ‘officer Matt Taven,’ she was told the video wasn’t good enough and it had to be done again.

The woman’s partner and co-offender, who allegedly created the fake identity, is yet to have his charges finalised before the courts and is yet to enter a plea.

The court was told the mother believed her child would be sent to juvenile detention if she disputed or did not comply with the court order requiring her to supply photographs and videos.

Mum completes sick ‘tasks’

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said while pretending to be the AFP officer, the stepfather allegedly sent example photos to the woman and told her to re-create the poses with her daughter, often saying she had not done a good enough job, and to re-do the ‘task’.

Ms Friedewald said messages the woman exchanged with ‘officer Taven’ showed she acted in wilful ignorance rather than following her suspicions.

“(There are) very obvious examples of her being sceptical or having suspicions … but not looking further into it, turning a blind eye … allowing for the offending to continue,” she said.

She said the “very unusual and very elaborate” offending came to light when the man left the home, and the girl’s sister threatened to kill her mother, blaming the woman for her stepfather’s absence.

The woman then called the police to report her daughter’s threat, and after they attended the home she mentioned the fake court order.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald (front) leaves the Toowoomba Magistrates Court. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Ms Friedewald said when interviewed by police, the woman minimised her role in the offending, stating she had only taken naked photographs of her daughter once or twice.

Her phone data told a different story.

Ms Friedewald said the chat history also showed the woman attempted to meet ‘Mr Taven’ and that she had been promised a car, money for family trips, a house, and a dog, all of which never occurred.

She said ‘Mr Taven’ also offered cash for the ‘tasks’ to be completed which could be given to the victim.

Ms Friedewald said the woman failed to act as the girl’s protector and made no attempts to find out if the scheme was legitimate, despite showing concern for her daughter.

“It is perhaps even more serious given (she) knew her (child) was suffering and struggling with what was happening with her, despite this, by turning a blind eye … she allowed it to continue,” she said.

She said given the serious nature of the offending a significant period of imprisonment was warranted, such as 10 years if a lesser term, she urged Judge Dennis Lynch KC to impose a parole eligibility date rather than immediate release.

‘Unique’ crime leads to sentencing ‘issue’

Judge Lynch said the woman’s involvement in her children’s abuse was a “significant sentencing issue” as she didn’t facilitate the acts for her own sexual gratification, noting she herself was an alleged victim of the co-accused.

“She wasn’t doing it for any real personal benefit or personal gain, doesn’t that in the end make a difference to whatever penalty might be imposed?” he asked Ms Friedewald after she called for a lengthy detention order.

Ms Friedewald agreed those aspects were relevant but stood by her submission.

Barrister Jessica Goldie said an appropriate sentence was difficult to ascertain given the “unique” nature of the crime but submitted a 10-year jail term was excessive.

She said the woman did not require supervision within the community and had already served one-third of a seven-year jail term, two years and four months, which was sufficient time in custody.

Ms Goldie submitted a jail term of five years with the time declared as served.

The girl’s stepfather is yet to be delt with for the shocking crime.

Mum’s “fanciful” explanation of abuse

The child’s stepfather is also accused of making other fake profiles on Facebook, including a young man who became a fake online boyfriend, and the mother of the fake boyfriend who was a lawyer.

The court was told when the woman was asked by investigators if she believed the order she said, “I believed it in the sense that I thought there was a federal police officer involved and a lawyer involved”.

“It didn’t make much sense that I didn’t have any further contact other than the emails and Facebook but the more I asked the more I got told that things would get worse for (my daughter),” she said.

When asked if she really thought a police officer would ask for naked photographs of children she said she “wasn’t totally convinced on it but I was coerced into believing that was a thing.”

Mother alleged to be sexual victim of co-accused

Ms Goldie said the man’s alleged manipulation went beyond making multiple fake profiles, alleging people were trying to kill him for being a pedophile, and if they succeeded it would be her and her children’s fault.

“Police described (her) as being overcome with guilt and remorse for her perceived involvement when they told her what she was involved in was effectively a fabrication by (her partner) to obtain child exploitation material,” she said

Judge Lynch said the crime was unusual, especially given she was a mother aiding in the sexual abuse of her daughter, and in his experience, the circumstances of the crime were “unique”.

His Honour Judge Dennis Lynch KC Picture: AAP /Claudia Baxter

He said the woman was allegedly subject to serious and violent domestic violence at the hands of her co-offender, which included manipulation and coercive control such as limiting who she could socialise with and what she did with her money.

“You were to a large extent subservient to (him),” Judge Lynch said.

“You were prevailed upon by these fake identities because you were told unless you could convince your daughter to comply there would be adverse consequences for her.

“I deal with you on that basis that there was no personal motive from you apart from trying to avoid (that).”

He noted the co-accused had been in a relationship for some time and that the domestic violence within the home gradually built to the point where the woman was allegedly threatened with a taser if he did not comply with his demands, which was at times sexual in nature.

A court report said the woman of ”average intelligence” suffered from complex PTSD and social anxiety, and had a “meek and non-confrontational” personality.

Judge Lynch sentenced the woman to a five-year suspended sentence with immediate release.

In September 2024 the woman pleaded guilty to a number of charges which included repeated sexual conduct with a child, creating child exploitation material, using a drug to stupefy her child, rape, and possessing child exploitation material.

The court was told the former childcare worker had no contact with her daughters while in custody.

Originally published as 869 photos, 24 videos: Fake cop ‘tricks’ mum into abusing child to ‘catch pedophiles’