Media Release
WA man jailed for soliciting, transmitting and possessing child abuse material
A West Australian man has been sentenced by the Bunbury Magistrates Court to a maximum of two years and six months’ imprisonment for soliciting, transmitting and possessing child abuse material.
The man, 23, was sentenced yesterday (15 June, 2026) and ordered to serve a minimum of 10 months in custody.
He will then be eligible to be released on a recognisance order to be of good behaviour for 18 months.
The Withers man had previously pleaded guilty to:
- One count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of using a carriage service to procure a person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.26(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit indecent material to someone under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.27A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material to himself, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
Quotes attributable to AFP Detective Acting Inspector Josh Gilmour:
“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators, and the AFP will continue to target those who seek to exploit children."
“The AFP is steadfast in its mission to protect children, and we will use every resource available to ensure anyone who targets them faces justice."
“To those soliciting, possessing or sharing child abuse material – investigators are working tirelessly to identify you and place you before the courts to face justice for these vile crimes.”
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit the ACCCE website.
Note to media
Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL not ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’
The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase ‘child pornography’ is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
- indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
- conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
