Worst Cases of Child Sex Crimes Unearthed in Australia: Ex-Childcare Worker Charged with 1,600 Offences

New Delhi, August 2, 2023: In a shocking revelation, a former childcare worker was charged with over 1,600 child sexual abuse offences, including rape, against 91 young girls, making it one of the most appalling cases of sex crimes against children in Australian history.

The 45-year-old man had worked at nearly a dozen childcare centres in Brisbane, Sydney, and abroad over a span of 15 years.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) made the arrest in August last year after discovering electronic devices containing child abuse material of young girls during a search at the accused’s home and other locations. The material was first located on the dark web in 2014, leading to a prolonged joint investigation by the AFP, Queensland Police Service (QPS), and New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF).

The investigation initially hit a dead-end until 2022, when investigators traced identifiable features in the background of a video to a childcare centre in Brisbane. A subsequent search at the man’s Gold Coast residence revealed around 4,000 images and videos allegedly capturing his abuse of the victims.

The charges include 136 counts of rape and 110 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10, allegedly occurring between 2007 and 2022 in Brisbane, Sydney, and overseas.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough expressed deep distress over the alleged offences and praised the law enforcement’s dedicated efforts in identifying the victims. All 87 Australian children among the 91 victims have been identified, and their parents have been informed. However, four children remain unidentified, and international authorities are assisting with the investigation of the alleged abuse overseas.

Describing the case as one of the most horrific child abuse instances, NSW State Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald highlighted the importance of sparing the victims from further trauma during the prosecution.

The accused is scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 21 and will also face 180 child sex abuse charges against 23 victims aged one to five in NSW. Authorities are determined to ensure that the man faces the full force of the law for his heinous crimes.