A former childcare worker from the Gold Coast has been charged with 1623 child abuse offences against 91 children over 15 years.
Authorities have described the actions of the 45-year-old man as “one of the most horrific cases of alleged child abuse they have ever seen”.
The man is accused of committing the offences against pre-pubescent girls at childcare centres across Brisbane, Sydney and overseas between 2007 and 2022.
He was arrested in Brisbane in August last year and initially charged with making and distributing child abuse material that was allegedly posted on the dark web.
However, police allege that after the man was charged, detectives located further self-produced child abuse material on electronic devices allegedly owned by the man.
The AFP executed two search warrants, including at the man’s Gold Coast home, where they seized electronic devices allegedly containing child abuse material created by the man.
Police say the man recorded his offending on phones and cameras.
“The AFP is highly-confident that all Australian children who were recorded in the alleged child abuse material have been identified,” AFP Northern Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said.
“The AFP, working with support services, has ensured parents and carers have received as much information as possible as this investigation continues.
“I can assure members of the Australian public that if you have not been contacted by law enforcement, it is extremely unlikely your child was allegedly offended against by the man.
Assistant Commissioner Gough said authorities never gave up trying to identify the alleged offender and the children in the alleged abuse material.
“Given there were so many alleged images and videos of children recorded over 15 years on the alleged offender’s devices, the process of identification took time, skill and determination,” she said.
“While I am extremely proud of law enforcements’ persistence and their unwavering dedication to identify this alleged offender, and stop further abuse, this is chilling news.
“It is with a heavy-heart that the AFP and other law enforcement dedicate so much time and resources to prevent and take action against individuals who commit heinous crimes against children.
“There is not much solace I can give parents and children who have been identified under Operation Tenterfield, but I can tell you that we never gave up, and we never will when it comes to protecting children.
“This is a distressing time for families, carers and the community broadly.
“We know this type of news can re-traumatise survivors of sexual abuse, and, please, I urge those survivors to seek support, or talk to a trusted network, if today’s news has caused distress.”
The charges the man is facing include 136 counts of rape and 110 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said the man would also be facing child sex abuse related charges in NSW once he fronts court in Queensland.
“Today we announce that the NSW Police Force have issued a warrant for this man’s arrest in our home state, where he faces 180 child sex abuse charges against 23 victims aged one to five,” Assistant Commissioner Fitzgerald said.
“Once this man faces the AFP charges in Queensland, we will be seeking to extradite him to Sydney to face the full force of the law in New South Wales.
“This is one of the most horrific cases of alleged child abuse our detectives have seen, and we will continue to relentlessly pursue this matter on behalf of the 23 victims of NSW, who remain our number one priority.”
The case is scheduled for a mention in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 21 August.
If you or anyone you know needs support, contact 1800 RESPECT.
