Melbourne man jailed for grooming children on the dark web

A Melbourne man has been jailed for at least four years for grooming children on a secret dark web page he administered, where he shared sexual abuse material and had sexual conversations with boys aged eight to 12 years.

Police said the 78-year-old Ringwood East man also recruited young people in Australia and overseas through his invite-only website to have sexual conversations with children and share child abuse material.

The Victorian joint anti-child exploitation team – a taskforce of Victorian and federal police – raided the man’s three properties on July 2023, and had been investigating him since June 2022.

Officers seized four computers, a mobile phone, five digital storage devices, 221 CDs and DVDs, 149 magazines and three books from his homes in Ringwood East, Wantirna South and Healesville. Forensic examination of the items found they contained child abuse material.

The man on Monday pleaded guilty to 11 child abuse offences, including possession of child abuse material, sharing child abuse material and grooming and procuring children in Australia and the United States. He was sentenced by a County Court judge to six years and six months’ jail, with a non-parole period of four years.

“Use this example as a warning – if you are doing the wrong thing, we will come for you and put you before the courts, where you will face significant jail time,” Australian Federal Police acting Commander Simone Butcher said.

This case follows police dismantling a child abuse ring of more than 35 men across Victoria and NSW, who collectively face more than 1000 criminal charges for allegedly sharing horrific child sexual abuse material, including bestiality and the torture and murder of infants.

Group members also texted each other about their desire to find children and infants in real life.

“It was some of the worst stuff we’ve ever dealt with,” Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Jason Regan told The Age at the time.

The Australian government has funded an expanded child sexual abuse prevention service by Jesuit Social Services called Stop It Now! It offers free, anonymous support – including a helpline and online resources – for anyone concerned about sexual thoughts involving children.

Bravehearts counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse: 1800 272 831

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