Mackay police have today finalised Operation Westmeath, a protracted investigation of sexual offences committed against four children aged between 12 and 15.
In response to an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers in early January, detectives commenced a complex operation led by Mackay’s Child Protection and Investigation Unit.
Police will allege a group of men used social media applications to contact and groom victims over a two-year period to produce and procure child exploitation material. They also allegedly committed sexual offences directly against the children.
Detectives finalised the operation after executing a search warrant at a Bakers Creek residence where they located three men aged 19, 22 and 49. A fourth man, a 21-year-old, ran from the address and is yet to be found.
The four men are known to each other.
Several digital devices were also seized from the address and will now undergo further forensic testing.
Three men – aged 19, 22 and 49 – have since been charged with a total of 27 offences between them including rape, unlawful carnal knowledge, indecent treatment of a child, permitting abuse of children on premises, grooming, involving a child in the making of exploitation material, possession of child exploitation material, deprivation of liberty and breach of privacy.
They have been refused police bail and will appear in Mackay Magistrates Court on March 14.
Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to come forward and speak with police.
