A man will face court today charged with online child exploitation offences following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler detectives.
Earlier this month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from the Hills District.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform on the child.
It will be further alleged the man made arrangements to meet and pay the child for sex.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested a 47-year-old man at Westmead about 4.30pm yesterday (Monday 7 December 2020).
A search warrant was subsequently executed at a home at Rouse Hill, where detectives seized several items including a laptop and an electronic storage device.
The man was taken to Granville Police Station and charged with use carriage service to procure child under 16 years for sexual activity and use carriage service to transmit child abuse material.
He was bail refused to appear at Fairfield Local Court today (Tuesday 8 December 2020).
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages
