A MORNINGTON man is in jail following what police describe as a “landmark” child exploitation case.
The 57-year-old was arrested after Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team detectives raided his home in September.
The case is the first to be presented before a Victorian court relating to charges of producing child exploitation material outside Australia.
Acting Sergeant Paul Turner, of the police media unit, said the case highlighted the high level of investigative expertise of the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team who target child sexual exploitation offences internationally.
The arrest ended a year-long investigation into the man’s production and possession of child pornography, following visits to the Philippines 2012-2015, where he took nude photos of a young girl and two teenage girls.
Investigators found more than 2700 child exploitation images on the man’s electronic devices.
The man pleaded guilty at the Melbourne County Court and was sentenced to 21 months jail for producing child exploitation material outside Australia and accessing and making available child exploitation material in Australia.
The man will be released after serving 15 months and then serve an 18 months community corrections order for possessing child exploitation material. He may also have to pay $1500 recognisance.
First published in the Mornington News – 21 June 2016
