School worker charged over alleged child, animal abuse material

A NEW South Wales school employee has been arrested and charged over the alleged possession of child and animal abuse material.

The 24-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday, July 21, after detectives attached to the NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad’s Strike Force Trawler executed a Commonwealth person warrant at a school and a search warrant at a home in the remote Bourke Shire.

Led by the Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU), Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing State Crime Command investigation targeting the online abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and other telecommunications devices.

Police say the investigation began earlier this month after detectives received information regarding the detection of child abuse material linked to an account holder in the state’s north west.

During Tuesday’s searches, officers allegedly seized a number of electronic devices containing child abuse material as well as animal abuse material.

Image: NSW Police

The man was arrested about 11am and taken to Bourke Police Station, where he was charged with two counts each of possessing child abuse material and possessing animal sexual abuse material, as well as one count of possessing animal crush material.

Under section 547E of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), animal crush material refers to videos, images or audio depicting or describing mammals, birds or reptiles being deliberately tortured, seriously injured or killed for the purpose of sexual gratification or to appeal to a sadistic or other perverted interest in violence or cruelty.

The 24-year-old school employee was refused police bail and due to appear before a bail court on Wednesday, July 22.

Investigations under Strike Force Trawler are continuing.