A 36-year-old Queensland man has been charged with child sex offences following an undercover sting by Argos detectives.
The man is alleged to have organised to meet up with a 13-year-old girl, with police alleging his behaviour escalated to having the ‘child’ meet him for sex at a local motel.
The Strathpine man was arrested yesterday when he attended a Brisbane fast food business to meet what he believed to be, a 13-year-old girl….
He was instead met by detectives from Argos, the Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group’s unit.
The investigation began on October 7 when the man initiated contact with a social media profile of an undercover Argos officer posing as the 13-year-old girl.
The man is alleged to have engaged in behaviour that constitutes the grooming of a child, including sending photographs of himself naked.
He has been charged with using the internet to procure a child under 16 years of age with a circumstance of aggravation that the offender went to a place with the intention of meeting the child and grooming a child under 16 years of age.
The man is due to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 8.
WATCH:
Detective Inspector Glen Donaldson of the Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group’s unit Argos says this case highlights the ever-present risk that children can face from online predators and the key role parents and caregivers play in teaching children about online safety.
“Research by the Commonwealth eSafety Commissioner has identified that 1 in 4 children have been approached by a stranger online,” Detective Inspector Donaldson says.
“The research also shows that over 90% of teens regularly use internet connected devices,
“If parents have children going online then they need to be aware of their online footprint and speak with them about what they can do when they feel unsafe.”
Detective Inspector Donaldson says its important children and teens know that nothing is so serious or embarrassing that they can’t approach a trusted adult for support.
“Supervision is the key to prevention, as is ongoing communication with children about how to stay safe online and the dangers of having online ‘friends’ they have never met face-to-face.”
It also issues stark warning for any of those that seek to engage in this predatory behaviour.
“Every day Argos has undercover officers working in a range of online platforms to detect and apprehend people who seek to exploit children in our community,”
“Just remember that the next ‘child’ that you message may be a member of Argos.”
