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Queensland Police Charge 27‑Year‑Old With 596 Child‑Abuse Offences Across 15 Nations

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  • Australian police have charged a 27-year-old man with 596 child-abuse-related offences against hundreds of children.
    Image: BBC
    Australian police have charged a 27-year-old man with 596 child-abuse-related offences against hundreds of children. (Getty) Source Full size

Man Charged With Nearly Six Hundred Child‑Abuse Counts 27‑year‑old man was arrested in Queensland and charged with 596 child‑abuse offences [1]. The counts involve 459 identified victims and more than 23,000 illicit images and videos recovered from his devices [1]. He has been in custody since early February and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday [1].

Victim Demographics Span Australia and 14 Other Countries Police have identified 360 victims, many of whom are boys aged 7‑15 [1]. Over 200 victims reside in Australia, while the remainder are spread across 14 other English‑speaking nations, bringing the total to 15 countries [1]. The scale of the material required extensive forensic analysis to catalogue [1].

Grooming Operation Ran From 2018 to 2025 Using Multiple Personas Investigators say the grooming campaign ran from 2018 through 2025 [1]. The offender created several online personas, posing as both men and women, to gain children’s trust on popular apps, games and social‑media platforms [1]. He recorded interactions, coerced minors to send explicit content, and stored the material in clearly labelled folders [1].

International Collaboration Aims to Locate Remaining Victims Queensland Police are working with international law‑enforcement partners to locate any remaining victims [1]. Detective Senior Sergeant Denzil Clark warned that online child‑grooming is increasing and highlighted the trauma inflicted on children [1]. Authorities have not disclosed the specific platforms used, but emphasize ongoing victim support efforts [1].

Sources

Timeline

Apr 2025 – NSW Police launch Strike Force Constantine, a dedicated task‑force to investigate the online distribution of child sexual‑abuse material that includes ritualistic or satanic themes, marking a coordinated response to a growing trans‑national threat [2][3][4].

Nov 28, 2025 – Police execute six search warrants across Sydney, arrest four men—Landon Germanotta‑Mills, Stuart Woods Riches, Mark Andrew Sendecky and Benjamin Raymond Drysdale—who are linked to an international satanic child‑sex‑abuse ring; thousands of videos depicting abuse of children aged 0‑12 and bestiality are seized, and all four are denied bail pending court [2][3][4].

Nov 28, 2025 – Investigators identify a 26‑year‑old man from Waterloo as “playing a leading role in the group,” charging him with making and possessing child‑abuse and bestiality material and highlighting the network’s use of encrypted platforms to share the content [2][3][4].

Late Jan 2026 – The four Sydney defendants remain in custody without bail and are scheduled to appear before a court in late January 2026, where they will face multiple counts of producing, possessing and distributing child sexual‑abuse material [2][4].

Feb 5, 2026 – Queensland Police charge a 27‑year‑old man with 596 child‑abuse offences spanning 15 countries and involving 459 victims (over 200 in Australia); investigators recover more than 23,000 images and videos, and confirm the offender groomed children online from 2018‑2025 using multiple fake profiles [1].

Feb 5, 2026 – Detective Denzil Clark warns that “the trauma inflicted on children is significant and online grooming is increasing,” underscoring a surge in coercive tactics used to obtain sexual images and the need for international cooperation to support victims [1].

Feb 5, 2026 – Police continue to work with overseas partners to locate remaining victims and provide assistance, reflecting broader concerns about the rise of online child‑grooming via popular apps, games and social‑media sites [1].

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