Australian Federal Police bust huge child sex abuse ring
Nine men across three states in Australia have been charged. Photo / AFP/ACCCE
By: Natalie Brown
An Australian Federal Police-led investigation has smashed open a domestic online network of alleged child sex offenders, who are accused of abusing and exploiting Australian children and recording the horrific crimes to share with others.
Nine men across three states - New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia - have been charged, with the two most recent arrests made in the NSW mid-north coast town of Kendall, where toddler William Tyrrell disappeared in September 2014.
The two men lived in the town at the time the three-year-old disappeared from his foster-grandmother's home, according to reports by The Australian, though neither have ever been interviewed about the case.
AFP Assistant Commissioner for the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), Lesa Gale, refused to comment on the Tyrrell investigation at a press conference today, referring questions to NSW Police. An inquest to examine how Tyrrell vanished will resume in October.
Gale said at least 14 children have been saved from further harm, as a result of the national police investigation into individuals allegedly producing and sharing child abuse material.
"We suspect this is the biggest domestic child exploitation network uncovered in recent times," she told reporters. "Operation Arkstone has shaken some of our most seasoned officers."
"My message today to those offenders watching this presser: We are coming. We are coming for you."
Gale said the children were aged between four and seven.
Two men, aged 21 and 26, from the NSW mid-north coast are the latest arrests in Operation Arkstone, launched earlier this year after a tip-off from the United States' National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to the AFP's ACCCE.
Yesterday, investigators from the AFP Eastern Command Child Protection Operations, the NSW Police Force Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad and Mid North Coast Police Area Command executed search warrants at premises in the towns of Kendall and Old Bar.
The 26-year-old man was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with child under the age of 10 years, two counts of produce child abuse material and two counts of possess/control child abuse material using carriage service.
The 21-year-old was charged with six counts of sexual intercourse with child under the age of 10 years and possess child abuse material.
Both men were refused bail and faced Kempsey Local Court today, where they were remanded in custody to appear at Port Macquarie Local Court on Thursday, September 10.
Another seven men from NSW, Queensland and Western Australia have previously been charged as part of this investigation – which began with the arrest of a man on the NSW Central Coast. Further analysis of material seized during that, and subsequent investigations, led to yesterday's activity on the Mid North Coast.
Police allege that analysis of evidence seized during each arrest helped identify other suspected offenders.
Ms Gale said police would allege in court that some of the accused men had sexually abused children known to them and recorded videos and photographs of the abuse to share with others online.
"The efforts of all officers involved in the investigation has resulted in at least 14 children removed from harmful situations, and saved from abuse in the future," she said. "We are continuing to try to identify other children who we suspect were preyed on by individuals in the alleged network.
Police allege that analysis of evidence seized during each arrest helped identify other suspected offenders. Photo / AFP/ACCCE
"It is heartbreaking to think of any child being sexually abused, but it strengthens our resolve to hunt down perpetrators and bring them to justice.
"Sexual abuse has a devastating impact on children and their families, and that abuse continues each and every time an image or video showing that crime is shared."
The ACCCE, headquartered in Brisbane, uses a range of investigative techniques to help police across Australia track down anyone who preys on children – in person or online. "Use of encrypted applications or systems will not enable you to stay anonymous – we have the capabilities and the will to track you down and arrest you," Assistant Comm Gale said.
NSW Police State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec, said investigating heinous crimes such as these is a priority for all law enforcement agencies.
"The despicable acts that we will allege in court that these men have committed are punishable with life imprisonment, such is this seriousness of the offences," Det Supt Kerlatec said. "Along with our partnering agencies, NSW Police will continue to be relentless in our efforts to put people who sexually abuse children before the courts."
Assistant Comm Gale pleaded with parents who couldn't "bear to hear this type of offending" not to turn away. "Please do not walk away from the television, please do not turn the volume down. Please turn the volume up. We need you to listen, we need you to be vigilant," she said.
"Child exploitation in Australia is becoming more prolific.
The victims are getting younger and younger. This type
of offending is becoming more violent and brazen.
The AFP do not want to turn up at your door to tell you that your child is the victim of sexual abuse or exploitation."
She advised parents to be vigilant, establish trust with their children so that they feel confident to come to them if they are concerned, and to gather any evidence that they may have that something could be happening with their child.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Finnish police refer child sexual abuse case
with 30 victims to prosecutors
Police have found at least 30 victims from different parts of Finland. Image: Eerik Lappalainen / Yle
Police in southwestern Finland have passed a case involving an exceptionally large number of child sexual offenses to prosecutors for consideration.
The suspect, a native Finnish man, has been in custody since early spring after police were alerted to his suspected crimes through both domestic and international tips.
He is being held on suspicion of multiple counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, aggravated child rape, and the possession and dissemination of indecent images of children. Police believe he used social media networks to facilitate his crimes.
All of the suspected victims uncovered so far were girls between the ages of 8 and 14.
Victims across country
Police have identified at least 30 victims from all over Finland, and the identities of more victims may be ascertained as joint investigations continue with both Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation and a number of international agencies.
Of the victims known so far, 13 preliminary investigations have been completed and the files passed on to the prosecutor for consideration.
Three other individuals have also been the subject of a preliminary investigation related to the suspected crimes, which is being conducted by officers at the Turku Central Police Station.
In a press release, police reminded parents and guardians of children that feelings of shame often prevent victims from telling other people what has happened to them. Therefore, parents should monitor the safe use of social media by children, and create an atmosphere in the home where even difficult subjects can be discussed.
Family Court report writer and former Big Brother
psychologist pleads guilty to child sex abuse in NSW
psychologist pleads guilty to child sex abuse in NSW
Exclusive by Heidi Davoren and Josh Robertson
A celebrity psychologist, who was used by the Family Court as an expert in custody disputes, has admitted to sexually abusing children decades earlier.
Bob Montgomery, who appeared on the TV show Big Brother as a consultant, faces up to 14 years in jail after pleading guilty to abusing 12-year-old boys while he was a scoutmaster in Sydney in the 1960s.
Montgomery is listed for sentencing in the NSW District Court later this month on two counts of buggery, five of indecent assault of a male and one of procuring an indecent act. He was charged by NSW police in January 2019.
Before that he acted in Family Court cases as a family report writer or single expert witness, a role that can include assessing the credibility of child sex abuse allegations in custody disputes.
Professor Patrick Parkinson, one of the country's foremost family law experts, said it was "obviously very disturbing" that a child sex offender played a role in parenting cases, which could open the way for some custody rulings to be quashed.
A Family Court review found six judgments involving Montgomery. A court spokeswoman said these related to four cases, in three of which Montgomery's appointment as single expert witness was rejected.
But Professor Parkinson said more cases that were settled out of court may need to be reviewed. "It's important that anybody who was involved in a case involving Dr Montgomery as an expert report writer, does contact their lawyer or contact the court to see whether anything can now be done," he said.
A Family Court spokeswoman said it had received no complaints but parents or their lawyers were "always free to contact the court directly about their cases".
Montgomery, who ran a private psychology practice on the Gold Coast, appeared widely as a media commentator, including on ABC radio.
'There may be more cases which need to be reviewed'
Julie*, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, went to the psychologist in 2013 as part of a custody dispute. She said the psychologist's "very intimate" behaviour made her feel "very uncomfortable".
"He was very blasé about the fact that he could 'tell' a paedophile, he knew when there was a 'real paedophile'," she said.
Julie said parents who may have had their allegations of child sex abuse assessed by Montgomery would be "hugely shocked". "It could have changed the whole of the future for particular children that he would have assessed.
"Those parents I really feel for them, just heartbreaking. I feel relieved that he's been convicted. I feel kind of nauseous as well, knowing that he's gotten away with this for so long and he's potentially put other children in danger. I don't know how many cases he's had but it makes me very angry and upset that he's had the chance to ruin other people's lives as well."
The report in Julie's case was not provided to the Family Court.
Professor Parkinson, who is Dean of the University of Queensland's law school, said Montgomery's child sex offences could give parents grounds to seek to overturn custody rulings.
"There is a need for the public to be confident that justice is done in these cases," he said. "They're very emotive, they're very fraught, one expects the experts to be independent, professional and have no other vested interest."
Professor Parkinson said it was difficult to know how many cases Montgomery may have influenced. "It's also the cases which might have settled on the basis of an adverse report from the expert where the advice was that there was no point continuing with the case any longer," he said.
"So there may be [more] cases which need to be reviewed … we simply don't know, and of course the court couldn't know without going through all the files. But the people involved in those cases are in the best position to know whether there are issues they need to raise with their lawyers or with the court."
Bognor, UK, mother jailed after years of
horrific child abuse
A woman has been jailed for 13 years after years of abusing her own child and lying about his injuries
..
No sexual abuse here, but it is a horrible example of the madness of some parents that children have to endure
By Joe StackMidhurst and Petworth Observer
The jail term following an investigation from detectives at Sussex Police who discovered the 29-year-old had been lying about injuries the child had to cover up the abuse.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Friday (June 5), having been convicted on February 28, of seven offences against her son, then aged under two between 2015 and 2018; four offences of child cruelty, two offences of grievous bodily harm and one of attempted grievous bodily harm.
The prosecution, authorised by the CPS, followed an investigation by detectives from the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit. Detective Constable Chris Smith of the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit said: "This was a distressing case of Fabricated Induced Illness, also known as 'Munchausen by proxy'.
"The mother made up a series of alleged health problems that she said her son suffered from after he was born prematurely, and drugged and ill-treated him over a period of four years.
"This began to come to light when she was caught on CCTV in a ward at Southampton Childrens' Hospital, deliberately mistreating him while he was there having his health assessed.
"She can be seen hitting his head against the hard floor on four occasions in a very calm and measured way.
"As a result enquiries began and we were informed. His mother tried to claim he suffered from nosebleeds to cover up the injuries.
"We discovered that she had also fractured his leg and hit or shaken him, causing a bleed on the brain, had made up symptoms causing him to be given medication and oxygen he did not need. She also poisoned him with sugar solution, causing him dangerously high glucose levels, and underfed him.
"The boy, now aged four, is currently in foster care and is doing well, his health problems have virtually disappeared."
Three y/o girl raped by ten y/o cousin
in south Kashmir’s Khrew
By TKW Staff Srinagar: Days after the rape of a teenaged girl was reported from south Kashmir, another incident of rape of a three-year-old has emerged from the Pulwama district.
According to police, the toddler has been raped by her 10-year-old cousin. The father of the toddler had on Thursday approached police post in Khrew area to lodge a written complaint against the minor whose name is being withheld.
The toddler and the minor are both residents of Wuyan village, according to Station House Officer of Khrew police station Zahoor Wani. “The family said the act happened when they had left their house,” he said. “Doctors at the local health care facility confirmed that the penetration has happened.”
They left the house with a 3 y/o alone in it?
The police have arrested the accused minor and filed an FIR numbered 28/2020 under section 376 – punishment for rape – under the Indian Penal Code and sections 3(A) and 4 – punishment for penetrative sexual assault – of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, “The accused has been sent to juvenile home in Srinagar,” Wani told The Kashmir Walla.
That's what he needs, to be mixed with teenage delinquents! Good grief!
Recently, the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl emerged from Anantnag’s Shangus area after she complained of illness but was found to be eight months pregnant. The teenager’s family has accused a 35-year-old relative, resident of Uttersoo village, who is now in police custody.
In 2019, a three-year-old girl was raped (13th, 2nd last story on link) by her neighbour in north Kashmir’s Bandipora distinct leading to protests in the entire valley.
Three Australian men arrested over alleged child abuse in the Philippines - as police rescue 13 children from a
horror sex den
By JOSH HANRAHAN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIAhorror sex den
Three Australian men have been arrested over their alleged roles in facilitating child abuse in the Philippines, during a month of major AFP-led breakthroughs in the Asian country.
In addition to the capture of the three men, police also uncovered a horror sex den in which 13 children, the youngest just 12 months old, were sexually abused on camera.
A mother arrested, in that case, had allowed four of her own children to be abused.
With a big number of predators visiting the Philippines to prey on children Australian Federal Police work closely with their counterparts, using their intelligence gathering to provide tip-offs about tourists or locals who may be involved in child sex abuse.
The efforts are coordinated through the International Justice Mission and in May this year resulted in 23 children being saved - and the arrests of several suspects, among them the three Australian men.
Three Australian men have been arrested over their roles in facilitating the abuse of children (pictured) in the Philippines, during a month of major AFP-led breakthroughs in the Asian country
Kevin Raymond Doyle (pictured), 57, is facing a total of 75 charges over the alleged abuse of up to 50 children
Brendan Curt Schulz (pictured), 35, allegedly live-streamed the sexually abuse of children, and will face Mount Isa Magistrates Court in Queensland on July 30
Kevin Raymond Doyle, 57, is facing a total of 75 charges over the alleged abuse of up to 50 children, News Corp reports.
The Brisbane truck driver allegedly shared child abuse online and encouraged others to procure children to engage in sexual activity.
Police first began to investigate Doyle last November when his phone was seized as he prepared to fly from the Philippines to Brisbane.
William Allen Corley, 63, last week faced Burwood Local Court in Sydney on multiple charges of child sexual abuse.
Brendan Curt Schulz, 35, allegedly live-streamed the sexually abuse of children, and will face Mount Isa Magistrates Court in Queensland on July 30.
In the wake of one May arrest, Philippines-based AFP agent Graeme Marshall said the joint work of the international police forces was crucial to catching paedophiles. 'International partnerships are critical to our combined efforts to protect children no matter where they live,' agent Marshall said.
The efforts, coordinated through the International Justice Mission, resulted in 23 children being saved - and several suspects being arrested - in May alone
Among those people arrested was a 28-year-old mother who allegedly offered up four of her own children to be abused
'The AFP and its international partners are working tirelessly to target anyone who seeks to exploit children, and we are not distracted by the demands of the COVID pandemic.'
Two of the Philippines-based police teams charged with investigating child sexual abuse are led by mothers.
After arresting the 28-year-old woman who allowed for four of her own children to be abused, Chief Janet Francisco said she 'could not comprehend' how a mother could allegedly do that.
'This just shows that criminally minded individuals will do whatever it takes to exploit minors for profit,' Francisco, of the National Bureau of Investigation's anti-human trafficking division, said.
'We as law enforcers will also do whatever it takes to apprehend erring individuals.'
Paedophile babysitter who attacked 6 y/o boys is released from prison after claiming a sex change made it less likely she'd re-offend
By ELIZA MCPHEE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIAA paedophile who abused two six-year-old boys she was babysitting has been released from prison after claiming a sex change made her less likely to re-offend.
Jeffrey Terrence Anderson, 34, who now identifies as a woman after taking taxpayer-funded sex-change hormones in prison, was jailed in 2008 for horrific crimes against children.
This includes having sex with a 12-year-old when she was just 19, as well as abusing two young boys she was babysitting.
She was released from prison on Tuesday on a court-imposed supervision order - despite the Brisbane Supreme Court admitting it wasn't 'ideal' she rejoin society.
Ideal? It wasn't ideal? It's utter madness!
Anderson claims to identify as a woman and started taking sex-change hormones while behind bars.
Jeffrey Terrence Anderson, 34, was jailed in 2008 for horrific crimes against children which also included having sex with a 12-year-old when she was just 19
There is a problem here as the inset photo is of Christian Brueckner,
the key suspect in the Madeleine McCann disappearance.
There is a problem here as the inset photo is of Christian Brueckner,
the key suspect in the Madeleine McCann disappearance.
Guards also stumbled across a shocking three-page story written by Anderson detailing fantasies of having sex with a three-year-old, The Sunshine Coast Daily reported.
Psychologist Luke Hatzipetrou said Anderson's belief she wouldn't re-offend was 'not supported'. 'Anderson's belief that the risk of re-offending would be mitigated by becoming a woman is not supported and somewhat naive,' he said.
'The fact that child images have been found in his possession as recently as November 2017 indicates that there is an ongoing preoccupation with children.'
The court said over the past two years Anderson had become 'more emotionally stable and secure'.
The 34-year-old will remain on the supervision order for ten years and is prohibited from having contact with children. But a complete control plan is not in place, the Courier Mail reported, despite warnings Anderson is a risk to children.
What could possibly go wrong? Oh, yeah, it's only children who will have to pay for this spectacular stupidity, and children are voiceless. Will you at least tell us where he is going to reside?
West Toronto couple charged in ongoing
child sexual assault at daycare
Man, 63, and his 60-year-old wife have operated a daycare in the Corso Italia area for 30 years
BY JOANNA LAVOIE TORONTO.COM
A husband and wife who have operated a home daycare for three decades in the Corso Italia area are facing a slew of charges in connection with an ongoing sexual assault investigation.
In a June 8 news release, Toronto police allege between 2017 and 2020, a 63-year-old man sexually assaulted a now nine-year-old girl on multiple occasions.
This man, along with his 60-year-old wife, have cared for children in their home near Caledonia Park and Davenport roads for 30 years.
Police said the man’s wife learned her husband was sexually assaulting the girls, but failed to report the abuse. Authorities said the wife, who was the girls’ primary babysitter entrusted to be in charge of them, “endangered the health of the children (and) failed to protect them.”
On Friday, May 29, Toronto police arrested Jose Dias, of Toronto.
He is facing one count each of sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, and sexual assault.
On Wednesday, June 3, after the second victim came forward, Dias was additionally charged with one count each of sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual assault, and making available sexually explicit material to a person under 16 years old. He has an Aug. 21 court date.
Toronto police are concerned there may be other victims.
Sexual assault is described as any form of unwanted sexual contact, including but not limited to, kissing, grabbing, oral sex, and penetration. Visit the Toronto Police Services’ Sex Crimes website to learn more about sexual assault and how to report it.
A range of supports are available for victims and their families.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2922, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.
German Police Bust Alleged Child Sex Ring
Benedict KasigaraCommunal News
Police allege that the mother of the 27-year-old suspect gave him access to the summer house knowing he would use the location to sexually abuse children.
Germany has seen a nearly 65% increase in crime related to child sexual abuse images in the past year.
Eleven people have been arrested in three German states for sexually abusing children, aged 5, 10, and 12. Affected children were sexually abused in a summer house after being drugged. The public prosecutor’s office and police in the western city of Muenster made the announcement on Saturday.
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. As of 2014, there are 300,000 people living in the city, with about 61,500 students, only some of whom are recorded in the official population statistics as having their primary residence in Münster.
In Muenster, police reportedly found a hard drive hidden inside the artificial roof of a young man’s home. This hard drive contained encrypted files. Police performed raids in the German states of Hesse, Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, with the help of videos obtained from the data.
Investigators say more than 500 terabytes of data have been seized. The group also set up an air-conditioned computer server room at the summer house.
Who were the Affected Children?
The ages of the three victims are said to be 5, 10, and 12 years. The head of the investigation, Joachim Poll, said the children were abused for hours after being drugged. It is said that these acts were carried out from November 2018 to May 2019.
According to the investigation, the 10-year-old victim was the son of a 27-year-old suspect, the 5-year-old victim was the son of another suspect, and the 12-year-old victim was also the nephew of the accused.
Police added that the 27-year-old contacted Pedo Files on the DarkNet, and offered to sexually abuse the children. According to Poll, “you can’t imagine the sexual abuse of children in these videos.” The two young children were then taken into police custody.
Suspect’s Mother Knew
Suspected crime sites include a Munster Allotment Garden. Police allege that the mother of the 27-year-old suspect gave him access to the summer house knowing he would use the location to sexually abuse children.
According to the German broadcaster WDR, video cameras, and other digital devices were also installed in the summer house. However, police have not yet released the scenes inside the building.
The latest investigation has uncovered serious rapes in 2019 at a campsite in Leogde, 125 kilometers (80 miles) from Muenster. It has been reported that several men have sexually abused children hundreds of times over the years at the campsite.
According to the latest figures from the German Federal Office for Crime (BKA), Germany has seen a nearly 65% increase in crime related to child sexual abuse images in the past year.
A dark net (or darknet) is an overlay network within the Internet that can only be accessed with specific software, configurations, or authorization, and often uses a unique customized communication protocol. Technology such as Tor, I2P, and Freenet was intended to defend digital rights by providing security, anonymity, or censorship resistance and is used by both criminals and legitimate users.
Boy Scout Supervisor August 2019
Sexual Abuse Case
Prosecutors in the city of Freiburg told the media that the 41-year-old had been arrested and charged with 696 counts of sexual assault against children. German media quoted court sources as saying that the boys who had been sexually abused by the accused between 2010 and 2018 were between the ages of seven and fourteen.
He has also been charged with rape and sexual assault. The suspect was arrested in February 2019, after a mother told police the man had sexually abused her 17-year-old son. According to police, Freiburg police are investigating the alleged man.
According to German police, the same suspect was prosecuted in 2004 and 2007, after being accused of sexually assaulting minors, but the investigation was called off due to a lack of evidence.
Lovely! So, for a lack of evidence, he got to go on and rape kids 700 times! And nobody in the Boy Scouts or the police bothered to check on him. Good grief!
In 2017, German police uncovered a criminal group in the German city of Stauffen who was involved in child sexual abuse. However, according to the police, the accused is not part of the group.
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