Man sentenced to six years in prison for child abuse

A Darwin man has been sentenced to six years in prison for child abuse, including possessing sexually explicit images of toddlers.

The 41-year-old pleaded guilty in June to 11 offences, including producing, accessing and possessing child abuse material. He was sentenced in the Northern Territory High Court on Friday.

He will be eligible for parole in April 2027, after already serving 12 months in prison.

The man was arrested by Australian Federal Police in September last year after the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 49 reports of an online user in the Northern Territory sending child abuse material via social media.

Police found more than 5,000 images of toddlers and young victims on the man’s SD card and mobile devices.

According to Greg Davis, head of the AFP, making or possessing child abuse material has long-lasting effects on the lives of victims.

“Investigations like this should serve as a stark warning that law enforcement has zero tolerance for child exploitation and child sexual abuse in any form,” he said.