Australian police said on Tuesday that a former childcare worker has been charged 1,623 crimes of abuse against 91 preadolescent girls in various cities of the country and abroad between 2007 and 2022.
The 45-year-old defendant has been in custody since August 2022, when Australian police arrested him and charged him with child exploitation and child pornography offenses.
Since then, agents have identified more self-produced child pornography in electronic devices allegedly owned by the man, according to a statement from the Australian Federal Police.
The man would have recorded with mobile phones and cameras while working in a dozen nurseries in the Australian city of Brisbane (2007-2013 and 2018-2022), abroad between 2013 and 2014; and in a center in Sydney (2014-2017).
The charges could lead to life imprisonment.
Among the charges he is accused of, there are 136 for rape, which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; 604 counts of indecent treatment of minors under the age of 16, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment; 613 accused of making child exploitation material, also punished with 20 years; 83 charges of possessing, controlling, producing, distributing or obtaining child sexual abuse material outside Australia, punishable by 15 years in prison.
Furthermore, the Police accuse him of possessing, controlling, distributing or obtaining child pornography, with an additional 15 years in prison; as well as six counts of possession of child labor material, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
On the other hand, New South Wales Police filed charges in June this year for alleged offenses against 23 children which include 68 charges of having sex with a child under the age of 10 and 42 charges of sexual intercourse aggravated with minors 10 years under authority, both offenses carry the maximum penalty of life in prison.
He is also charged with 69 counts of aggravated indecent assault and one count of producing child sexual abuse material, both types carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
“AFP, working with support services, has ensured that parents and carers are provided with as much information as possible as this investigation continues,” said AFP North Deputy Commissioner Justine Gough.
However, Gough acknowledged that while she is “extremely proud of law enforcement’s persistence and unwavering dedication to identifying this suspected criminal and stopping further abuse, this is chilling news.”
“We know this type of news can re-traumatize sexual assault survivors and I please urge those survivors to seek support or speak to a trusted network if today’s news has caused you distress,” she said.
