A man from Brisbane’s western suburbs has become the first person in Queensland to be charged for possessing child-like sex dolls under new Commonwealth laws targeting child abuse-related offences.
The 44-year-old man is due to appear in court today (21 February) after being charged by the Queensland Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) and faces a potential 15-year jail term if convicted of possessing the anatomically-correct doll.
The new offence came into force on 20 September 2019 as part of the Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Act 2019.
The Queensland JACET launched an investigation into the 44-year-old’s activities after a child-like sex doll was detected in a shipment from China by Australian Border Force (ABF) on 20 January.
Investigators executed a search warrant at the man’s Riverhills home on 25 January where, it will be alleged, they seized two further child-like sex dolls, a laptop and tablet.
Police will further allege a laptop seized at the house contained child abuse material.
The man is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today, charged with:
- Two counts of possessing a child-like sex doll or other object that resembles a child (or part of a child) under 18, and a reasonable person would consider it likely that the doll is intended to be used to simulate sexual intercourse, contrary to section 273A.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995. The maximum penalty for this offence is imprisonment for 15 years.
- One count of attempting to possess a child-like sex doll contrary to section 273A.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is imprisonment for 15 years.
- One count of possess child exploitation material contrary to section 228D of the Criminal Code (Qld). The maximum penalty for this offence is imprisonment for 14 years.
Research by the Australian Institute of Criminology has found that use of child-like sex dolls may lead to an escalation in child sex offences – from viewing online child abuse material to contact sexual offending.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Northern Command Lesa Gale said the dolls could desensitise people who used them to the physical, emotional and psychological harm caused by sexual abuse.
“These dolls are not harmless and do not prevent people from offending in the future,” she said.
“The Australian Federal Police will pursue any form of child exploitation or activity that reinforces the sexualisation of children. This includes sexual acts using items depicting children such as these dolls, which –are legally considered child exploitation material.
“This arrest highlights the commitment undertaken by the AFP and its partners to protect children and identify and prosecute anyone who seeks to exploit and harm them.”
ABF Regional Commander for Queensland, Chris Waters said this arrest should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can import this kind of abhorrent material, that the ABF and its partner agencies will stop you and bring you to justice.
“Child sexual abuse is a rapidly evolving global issue and the ABF actively cooperates with our law enforcement partners to further investigate these matters domestically and internationally, to prevent any harm to children here or overseas” he said.
