A man has been charged with 19 child abuse offences following an investigation into the sexual abuse of a boy in the Illawarra region.
In October 2019, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a teenage boy had been sexually assaulted by a man he met on social media in 2017.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives executed a search warrant at a unit near Port Kembla about 9am yesterday (Wednesday 8 January 2020), and seized two mobile phones, a laptop and hotel key card.
A 20-year-old man was arrested at the unit and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with 19 offences including eight counts of have sexual intercourse with child under 16 years, six counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with child under 16 years, incite person under 16 years to commit act of indecency, commit act of indecency with person under 16 years, intentionally sexually touch child under 16 years, produce child abuse material, and threaten to record intimate image without consent.
Police will allege in court that the man provided the boy – aged between 13 and 14 – with alcohol and illicit drugs, before sexually assaulting him on several occasions between 2017 and 2019.
The man appeared at Wollongong Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to re-appear at the same court today on Wednesday 11 March 2020.
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.
