West Australian Man Jailed for Two Years Over Child Abuse & Bestiality Material

Butler - A 35-year-old man from Butler, Western Australia, has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined A$5,000 for possessing and transmitting child abuse material.

He was also charged for possessing bestiality material.

The Perth District Court imposed the two-year prison term on December 18, 2025, with the man to be released on a recognisance release order after serving 12 months.

He had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing child abuse material, one count of accessing child abuse material using a carriage service, and one count of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service, all contrary to sections of the Commonwealth Criminal Code.

The A$5,000 fine was imposed on January 22, 2026, following a guilty plea to one count of possessing objectionable material (bestiality) under Western Australia's Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1996.

The charges stemmed from the same Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation but were handled separately due to the division between Commonwealth and state jurisdictions.

AFP Commander Renee Colley said, in a statement, the AFP and partners remain committed to prosecuting those involved in such offences.

"The AFP and its law enforcement partners continue to work tirelessly to find and prosecute anyone possessing abhorrent videos and images of abuse.

"The result of these investigations sends a clear message to those criminals; we have zero tolerance for any form of child exploitation, child sexual abuse or animal bestiality," Colley said.

"Child abuse material has long-lasting impacts on the lives of victimised children," she added.

The investigation was supported by the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), which coordinates national efforts against online child sexual exploitation and promotes prevention strategies.

The ACCCE urges the public to report suspected child abuse via its channels.

ACCCE says they provide support services for those affected by child sexual abuse or online exploitation.

The ACCCE also highlights resources such as the ThinkUKnow program, an AFP-led initiative offering advice to parents and carers on protecting children online.

(In emergencies or if a child is at immediate risk, call police on 000.)