Cops bust rural area man for allegedly grooming friend's 11-year-old daughter

Police have arrested a 53-year-old NT rural area man for allegedly grooming his friend’s 11-year-old daughter.

POLICE have arrested a 53-year-old Rural Area man for allegedly grooming his friend’s 11-year-old daughter.

Detectives from the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team allege the man, who cannot be named, rented a spare room at the friend’s home in early 2019 and began grooming the child.

In July of that year, the victim and her family moved to South Australia but investigators say the man continued to communicate with her via social media.

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On Wednesday, police raided his home in Virginia and seized his mobile phone, which they allege contained “significant amounts of communication with the victim that spanned over 12 months” including child abuse material.

He was charged with using a carriage service to groom the girl, indecent dealings with a child and possessing child abuse material before being remanded in custody to face court on Thursday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lawson described the man’s alleged conduct as “completely reprehensible”.

“This investigation shows the importance of multi-agency operations working together to identify and apprehend those in our community who pose a serious risk to the safety of the most vulnerable in our community,” he said.

“The Northern Territory JACET will continue to work tirelessly with national and international partners to keep the most vulnerable in our community safe.”

AFP Detective Superintendent for child protection operations Paula Hudson said the AFP would “always exercise all available options to prevent the sexual abuse of children anywhere at any time”.

“I commend the work of the NT JACET as they continue to take all necessary action to protect children from sexual exploitation,” she said.

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