Global grooming: man faces 600 child abuse charges
Andrew Stafford |
A man has been charged with almost 600 offences after being accused of grooming hundreds of children around the world for years.
More than 23,000 videos and images relating to his alleged offending were found on devices after detectives raided his Maryborough residence, north of Brisbane, in February 2025, police said.
The offending involved 459 victims in 15 countries, primarily aged between seven and 15.
Police said 360 had been identified including more than 200 across Australia.
The 27-year-old man is accused of creating multiple fake online profiles on popular social media and gaming sites, hiding behind them to groom, coerce and threaten children into sending him sexually explicit material.
The offending is alleged to have taken place between 2018 and 2025.
The man was charged under Operation Xray Wick featuring Queensland, national and international law enforcement.
“Due to the volume of images seized and the number of victims identified, we are continuing this investigation,” Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Denzil Clark said on Thursday.
He said other offenders had been identified, with another person charged as investigations remained ongoing.
“This is extremely concerning and disturbing offending,” he said.
“We are seeing an increasing prevalence of children being groomed, coerced, or threatened into taking and sending sexual images of themselves, often through popular apps, games, and social media sites.
“The trauma that this causes a child is significant.”
Supt Clark pleaded with parents to play an active role in their children’s online lives.
“They need to be aware of what their children are doing, what platforms they’re on, and who they’re talking with,” he said.
“They also need to create an environment where the children feel safe enough that they can tell their parents if anything has happened.”
Anyone with information about people involved in child sexual abuse and online exploitation should contact police, he said.
The man’s charges included 244 counts of producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service and 163 counts of using a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years of age.
He faces a further 87 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child using a carriage service.
The man was set to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
AAP
