A South Coast man will face Nowra Local Court on Friday after being charged by Strike Force Trawler detectives over the alleged grooming of a child online.
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In February, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) started an investigation following a referral from the Australian Federal Police, Child Protection Operations.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking to a 14-year-old boy and engaged in sexually-explicit conversations and sent explicit video recordings and images.
Following extensive investigations, Strike Force Trawler detectives executed a search warrant at a home at Bomaderry, just after 11am on Thursday, June 21.
Police seized a computer, mobile phone and electronic storage devices.
A 50-year-old man was arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station, where he was charged with using a carriage service to groom child under 16 years for sex and using a carriage service to send indecent material to person under 16.
He was refused bail to due to appear at Nowra Local Court on Friday.
Police said investigations were continuing.
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.
Anyone with information about internet predators should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.