Launceston man allegedly tried to solicit child abuse material from an underage person online

An international investigation led to the discovery of child abuse images and videos, as well as messages with minors, on a Launceston man’s mobile phone. What the court heard.

A Kings Meadows man who allegedly used social media to solicit child abuse material from an underage person has fronted the Launceston Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A Kings Meadows man who allegedly used social media to solicit child abuse material from an underage person has fronted the Launceston Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Alan Raynor Gray, 41, was charged with one count of allegedly possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service and one count of allegedly using a carriage service to access child abuse material.

Mr Gray has not yet entered a plea to the charges, which come with a potential maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.

The Tasmania Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (TAS JACET), comprised of officers from the AFP and Tasmania Police, began investigating and subsequently arrested Mr Gray in early April following a report from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

The NCMEC report found Mr Gray was allegedly engaging with a minor via social media to solicit child abuse material.

TAS JACET executed a search warrant of Mr Gray’s home, where they allegedly found child abuse images and videos, as well as messages with minors, stored on Mr Gray’s mobile phone.

Following the arrest, TAS JACET said the phone would be subject to further forensic examination.

Without commenting on the specific allegations against Mr Gray, AFP Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said the AFP worked closely with its national and international law enforcement partners to protect children from harm.

“Trading these images is not a victimless crime,” Detective Sergeant Hardcastle said.

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

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

Magistrate Simon Brown adjourned Mr Gray’s case for plea until July 4, at 9.15am.