Four Arrested After Child Exploitation Investigation

Four men between the ages of 19 and 49 were arrested last week, after allegedly using social media to contact and groom child victims over a two-year period to produce and procure child exploitation material. It is also alleged that sexual offences including rape and deprivation of liberty were committed directly against children and that a girl as young as five was shown sexually explicit material.

The alleged sexual offences were committed against four children, aged between 12 and 15. Mackay Police finalised Operation Westmeath when the arrests were made, 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 which led to the arrests.

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. He later surrendered himself to police and was arrested and charged with eight offences including rape, unlawful carnal knowledge, indecent treatment of a child, grooming, involving a child in the making of exploitation material and possession of child exploitation material.

The four men are known to each other.

Several digital devices were also seized from the address and will now undergo further forensic testing. A brown stain on a mattress believed to be blood will undergo forensic testing for an allegation of rape.

The other three men – aged 19, 22 and 49 – have 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. The alleged time for the offending ranges over periods of time, a decade for the 49-year-old from 2011 to 2021, while the younger offenders are alleged to have taken part from 2016 – 2021 and 2019 – 2021.

They have been refused police bail and appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court on March 14, where the four appeared separately via video link from the Mackay Watch-house. The men were not required to enter pleas as their charges were read and matters were adjourned to the following day. On Tuesday 15 March their bail applications were denied after the court heard lengthy accusations involving depraved details of abuse. The four men accused denied the allegations. Their next court appearance is scheduled for May and they will remain in custody.

Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to come forward and speak with police. Quote this reference number: QP2200346703.

‍