Glenvale man to face Toowoomba Magistrates Court after child abuse material found on phone allegedly belonging to him

A 25-year-old Toowoomba man has been charged after investigators raided his home and found child abuse material on his phone.

A tip-off from the US of child abuse material being uploaded to a messenger platform lead to Australian Federal Police executing a search warrant at a Glenvale home.

A 25-year-old Toowoomba man is due to appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court after police found child abuse material on a mobile phone allegedly belonging to him.

The investigation began after the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the United States that an online user, believed to be in Australia, was uploading child abuse material to the Kik messenger platform.

Inquiries by the ACCCE and the Brisbane Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team allegedly linked the 25-year-old man to the account.

A search warrant was executed at the Glenvale man’s home on November 4 2021, where investigators seized a mobile phone containing child abuse material.

The man has been charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material and two counts of accessing child abuse material.

Theses offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.

AFP Sergeant Bianca Warland said accessing or possessing child abuse material perpetuates the abuse of child victims.

“Possessing this horrific material is a crime itself and every time someone uploads or accesses it represents a violation of a child victim. The AFP will never stop working to identify people involved in this vile activity and put them before the court,” Sergeant Warland said.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.