Name: Operation Arkstone: 12 arrested in alleged online paedophile network of child sex abuse photos, videos
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Operation Arkstone: 12 arrested in alleged online paedophile network of child sex abuse photos, videos

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One arrest leads to discovery of global online paedophile networkWe’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.DismisscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeAdvertisementThe arrest of one alleged child sex offender on the Central Coast in February led to the discovery of a further 13 suspects and 46 victims across the country as police uncovered what is believed to be an extensive online paedophile network used to share photos and videos of child abuse.The operation, led by the Australian Federal Police, alongside NSW Police and other agencies, has seen 12 men arrested and two ordered to face court. Half of the men allegedly abused children directly and eight of the accused and 39 of the victims were in NSW. The accused face a total of 828 charges.The AFP described the operation – which has also triggered 146 tip-offs to authorities in North America, Asia and Europe – as one of Australia's most significant efforts targeting child exploitation. Further charges and arrests could still result from the ongoing operation.One alleged member of the network, 27-year-old former childcare worker Timothy Doyle, faces 303 charges and is accused of abusing 30 children, including 16 at a Mid North Coast childcare centre. He has been charged with multiple counts of contact offending, including sexual intercourse with a child under 10, as well as offences related to the production of child abuse material.Mr Doyle's partner, 22-year-old Steven Garrad, was also arrested in June and faces 123 charges, including sexual intercourse with a child under 10 and offences related to the production of abuse material.A Seaforth man, 27-year-old Jake Caldwell, was arrested on November 3 and charged with four offences related to possessing and accessing child abuse material. The 30-year-old man arrested in Wyong on the Central Coast in February, Justin Radford, is accused of 89 offences, including 10 counts of sexual touching of a victim under 10, 12 counts of producing child abuse material and 22 counts of disseminating abuse material.AdvertisementThe large operation spanning NSW, Queensland and Western Australia was triggered following forensic examination of Mr Radford's electronic devices. Investigators uncovered online forums being used to disseminate child abuse material, including much that was allegedly generated by offenders arrested in the operation.AFP Acting Commander Child Protection Operations Christopher Woods said Operation Arkstone was unprecedented for the agency. Investigators spent most of 2020 uncovering suspects and victims with painstaking analysis of the material uncovered."These men allegedly produced child abuse material for the depraved pleasure of their peers with absolutely no thought to the lasting effects their actions would have on these children," Acting Commander Woods said."Police will allege Operation Arkstone revealed a network of abuse, where the alleged offenders in the forums encouraged and emboldened each other to engage in acts of depravity and abuse of children."NSW Police Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Chris Goddard, said specialist police from different agencies were targeting child exploitation across the country.828 TOTAL CHARGES46 CHILD VICTIMS IDENTIFIED14 ARRESTS AND NOTICES TO APPEAR"Together, we will continue to investigate serious child abuse offences in an effort to bringoffenders to justice and ensure the safety of the public,” he said.Each arrest and search warrant in the operation uncovered further evidence of the online network and led to more arrests.The men arrested range from 20 to 48 years old and include a volunteer soccer coach, disability support worker, electrician and chef.The child victims ranged in age from 16 months to 15 years.The operation also uncovered alleged bestiality offences, which led to animals being rescued from Mr Radford's property and from 30-year-old soccer coach Grant Harden of St Clair in western Sydney.Three men have been arrested in the US states Pennsylvania, Colorado and Connecticut as a result of the operation, which also involved US Homeland Security. The initial arrest of Mr Radford was triggered by a tip-off to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.The most important news, analysis and insights delivered to your inbox at the start and end of each day. Sign up to The Sydney Morning Herald’s newsletter , The Age’s newsletter , Brisbane Times' and WAtoday's .Log in, or to save articles for later. is a crime reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously reported on federal politics, education and communications at Parliament House in Canberra.Advertisement

One arrest leads to discovery of global online paedophile networkWe’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.DismisscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeAdvertisementThe arrest of one alleged child sex offender on the Central Coast in February led to the discovery of a further 13 suspects and 46 victims across the country as police uncovered what is believed to be an extensive online paedophile network used to share photos and videos of child abuse.The...

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Operation Arkstone: 12 arrested in alleged online paedophile network of child sex abuse photos, videos

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