Brisbane Paedophile Jailed 19 Years for 98 Child Abuse Offences

Brisbane — A 62-year-old Brisbane man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 12 years, for facilitating the sexual abuse of 25 children in the Philippines, including children with severe disabilities.

The man pleaded guilty in February 2025 to 98 child abuse-related offences after spending about AU$5,000 over three years to livestream 28 child sexual abuse shows from the Philippines.

He also travelled to the Philippines twice intending to sexually abuse children he had watched being abused during the livestreams, but was unable to arrange meetings with the victims.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) says they began investigating the man in October 2019 after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers stopped him at Brisbane International Airport following a flight from the Philippines and searched his phone.

A forensic examination uncovered child sexual abuse material, extensive use of live online child sexual abuse (LOCSA) services and communications with victim children in which he detailed sexual offences he intended to commit.

LOCSA involves the purchase of live child abuse shows conducted in real time through video conferencing applications.

Consumers can direct the abuse, with children subjected to repeated and increasingly degrading sexual abuse.

The AFP shared intelligence about the man's offending with the Philippine National Police (PNP) through the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Child Centre (PICACC).

The cooperation led to the rescue of seven victims aged between five and 20 and the arrest and prosecution of three LOCSA facilitators.

Police say investigations into other facilitators and victims remain ongoing.

The man was sentenced by the Brisbane Supreme Court on October 1, 2026, for offences including persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia, preparing and planning sexual offences against children overseas, procuring and grooming a child for sexual activity and causing children to engage in sexual intercourse in his presence.

He was also convicted of multiple offences involving the transmission, solicitation and accessing of child abuse material using a carriage service, as well as obstructing a Commonwealth public official and unlawfully importing Tier 2 goods.

AFP Detective, Acting Superintendent Louise McGregor, said the case demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in combating child exploitation.

“Our investigators are relentless in their pursuit of anyone producing, sharing or accessing child abuse material and we will continue to work with our domestic and international partners to bring these perpetrators to justice,” Detective Assistant Supt. McGregor said.

She said online child abuse remained a focus for Australian law enforcement agencies.

“Our common goal is to protect children wherever they live, and to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts,” she said.

Australian Border Force Superintendent, Robert Ansell, said border officers played a critical role in detecting child abuse material and identifying offenders.

“Australians would be shocked at how often ABF officers locate child abuse material at the border,” Supt. Ansell said.

He praised officers for their professionalism when dealing with distressing material, saying their work could be the first step in stopping further abuse and protecting children.

Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Centre, Chief Police Brigadier General Sheila Portento, said authorities remained committed to protecting children from exploitation.

“Behind every case is a child, a life, a story, and a future that deserves to be protected,” Police Brigadier Portento said.

She urged the public to “Protect, Speak up, Report, Act” and called for continued cooperation between law enforcement agencies to rescue victims, prevent exploitation and hold perpetrators accountable.

The AFP and its partners are working through the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), which coordinates specialist expertise and supports investigations into online child sexual exploitation while developing prevention strategies.

The AFP says members of the public with information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE and nyone who knows abuse is happening immediately or believes a child is at risk should contact police on 000.

The Federal Police also runs the ThinkUKnow education programme, which provides online safety advice to parents and carers.

Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 found that only about half of parents had spoken to their children about online safety.