Woman in court over online grooming of child

Photo of author

 

Strike Force Trawler detectives have charged a woman following an investigation into alleged online child exploitation offences.

The 48 year old woman was arrested at Liverpool railway station earlier this week.

She was taken to Liverpool Police Station and charged with two counts of using a carriage service to groom and procure a person under the age of 16, to transmit/publish/promote child abuse, and procure a child under16 years for sexual activity.

The woman was refused bail and appeared at Liverpool Local Court on the day she was arrested, Tuesday.

There she was formally refused bail to reappear at Parramatta Local Court on December 10.

In August this year, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a woman from the state’s south.

Police will allege in court that the woman believed she was speaking with the mother of a nine-year-old girl and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts she wished to perform on the child, and planned to meet the mother and child for sexual activity.

It is further alleged she believed she was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts she wished to perform on the child on a separate occasion.

Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.

Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.

The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.

Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

Leave a Comment