A 55-year-old Perth man has been charged with four child abuse material offences after police allegedly found videos of girls being sexually abused on his electronic devices.
The investigation was sparked after a referral from Interpol about a UK teenager who told police about an Australian man she had allegedly communicated with online.
The WA joint anti child exploitation team allegedly linked the 55-year-old to the messaging accounts that were used.
They arrested and charged the man on March 24 after allegedly finding the illegal videos and an online request for child abuse material while searching his Mosman Park home.
Electronic devices found at his home will also be forensically examined.
The man has been charged with three counts of possession of child abuse material obtained using a carriage service and one count of causing child abuse material to be transmitted using a carriage service.
He is expected to face Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, with the offences he is facing punishable by a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted.
Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Graeme Marshall said police would continue to protect children no matter where they lived.
“The sharing of child abuxjmtzywse videos and images is not a victimless crime,” he said, speaking in general.
“These are not just images on a screen. Every image and every second of a video has a real child being abused and being subjected to a situation that no child should ever experience.”
Anyone who has information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
sexual assault helpline
