Pedophile ring with links to William Tyrrell case smashed

Federal police have arrested nine men in three states – including two who lived in the town where William Tyrrell vanished.

Federal police say a paedophile network linked to the tiny NSW town where William Tyrrell vanished involves some of the most horrific abuse against Australian children that they have encountered.

Among nine men charged in three states in connection to the network, two were arrested on Thursday in Kendall on the NSW mid north coast, where Tyrrell went missing on a visit to his foster grandmother’s house almost six years ago.

It is believed they had never been interviewed about Tyrrell, raising hopes their arrest could lead to a breakthrough in the long-running homicide investigation.

While raiding properties linked to the two men, police were covering all bases, using high-tech x-ray equipment capable of detecting the presence of a buried body, The Australian understands.

William Tyrrell.

Police said the latest arrests were on Thursday of two men aged 21 and 26 on the NSW mid north coast.

The Australian has been told the two men lived in Kendall at the time three-year-old William Tyrrell disappeared from his foster-grandmother’s home in the town in September 2014.

One of these two men had previously worked at a child care centre in nearby Taree, and Ms Gale confirmed the offences being investigated involved opportunistic offending.

Of the victims identified so far, eight boys aged between four and seven were allegedly abused by the two Kendall men.

When William vanished, one of the men was around 16 and the other was in his early 20s.

The Australian understands the Kendall men had no previous criminal history for child abuse offences, but one of them had previously lost his job due to allegations of abuse.

It’s believed the pair have never been interviewed about Tyrrell. At least one is believed to have been living in a home that was doorknocked by police during the Tyrrell investigation, but was not questioned.

Ms Gale refused to comment on the Tyrrell investigation, referring questions to NSW police.

The 26-year-old man was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 years, two counts of produce child abuse material and two counts of possess or control child abuse material using carriage service.

Seven other men have been arrested in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia. Picture: Nathan Edwards

The 21-year-old man was charged with six counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 years and possess child abuse material.

Both men were refused bail and faced Kempsey Local Court on Friday, where they were remanded in custody to appear at Port Macquarie Local Court on Thursday 10 September 2020.

Seven other men have been arrested in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia.

Police say a total of 14 children have been removed from harm across the country as they continue to work to identify victims in images and videos shared among the network.

The operation was launched in early 2020 after a tip-off from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to the ACCCE.

More arrests are expected, and further victims will be identified.

Ms Gale warned child exploitation in Australia was becoming more prolific, the victims were getting younger and the type of offending was becoming more violent and brazen.

“Please do not walk away from your television, please do not turn the volume down,” she said at the media conference.

“We need you to listen, we need you to be vigilant.”