Bonner man allegedly caught with child abuse material on mobile phone

The 30-year-old man allegedly had the abuse material on his mobile phone. Photo: Albert McKnight.

CONTENT WARNING: This story refers to allegations of child sexual abuse.

Police have arrested a 30-year-old man after a tip-off about alleged child abuse material.

The man, whom Region has chosen not to name, did not apply for bail when he briefly appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday (12 February).

An ACT Policing spokesperson said that in December 2024, the Australian Centre for Countering Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

The tip was about an Australian user of a messaging application that was allegedly transmitting child abuse material, police said.

Enquiries by the ACT Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) allegedly linked a Bonner man to the account. On 30 January 2025, a search warrant was executed at the man’s home.

A forensic examination of a mobile phone seized during the search warrant allegedly located child abuse material on the device and the man was arrested on Wednesday.

He has been charged with possessing child abuse material using a carriage service and failing to comply with a section 3LA order.

No pleas were entered. The man will next appear in court later this month.

If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.

You can also submit an online report about a historical sexual assault allegation for incidents that occurred more than six months ago.