A Hunter Valley man faced court today after allegedly grooming a teenager online, while trying to get his hands on child abuse material.
In May, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging with the Kurri Kurri man online.
Police will allege in court the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and discussed sexually-explicit acts he wished to perform on her, while sending explicit material.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators arrested a 47-year-old man at a Singleton caravan park this morning.
The man was taken to Singleton Police Station and charged with use carriage service to solicit child abuse material and use carriage service to groom child under 16 years for sex.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.
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.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
