South Australia man sentenced for online child exploitation
A 51-year-old has been sentenced to more than two years' jail by the Adelaide District Court yesterday (26 August 2021) for possessing more than 1000 files of child abuse material, which included graphic images and videos of very young children being sexually abused.
The South Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (SA JACET) arrested the man in October 2019, after an investigation sparked by a tip from the United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
A person believed to be in South Australia had allegedly uploaded child abuse material to online platforms. SA JACET investigators identified the 51-year-old man as the suspected user of the account.
Police executed a search warrant at his home in Gawler, north of Adelaide, and found child abuse and bestiality material on several data storage devices. The content included videos, images and animated images involving children suspected to be as young as three.
The 51-year-old pleaded guilty in July 2020 to possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The man was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of two years, six months and 19 days, to be served in the community under a two-year Recognizance Release Order.
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.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button.
Note to media:
Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE MATERIAL' NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'
The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase "child pornography" is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
- indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
- conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
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