A MAN has made no application for bail in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court after being charged with a raft of child sexual exploitation offences under Carly’s Law.
The 35-year-old man from the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide appeared before Magistrate Teresa Anderson for a brief hearing yesterday before his matter was transferred to Adelaide.
The matter was transferred so the charges could be dealt with in the jurisdiction they were committed.
He is set to appear again on October 6 in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, where he is facing other charges.
The man, a convicted child sex offender, is the first person ever to be charged with an offence under Carly’s Law, which was passed in Federal Parliament on June 16, 2017.
Carly’s Law was enacted after the tragic murder of 15-year-old schoolgirl Carly Ryan in 2007.
Carly was the first Australian to be killed as a result of being groomed by a sexual predator online.
She was targeted by a 50-year-old paedophile, who lied about his age to lure her to a meeting.
Police will allege the defendant also lied about his age and gender to groom children for sexual activity.
On Tuesday, police charged him with using a carriage service to prepare or plan to cause harm, engage in sexual activity with or procure for sexual activity a person under the age of 16.
He was also charged yesterday with one count of using a carriage service to “groom” a person under 16 years of age.
These charges followed activity conducted by the South Australian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team on July 25, 2017.
Police executed three search warrants and seized two mobile phones and one laptop computer.
Senator Nick Xenophon welcomed the news of the first arrest by Australian Federal Police under the recently passed Carly’s Law.
“It is a big breakthrough and a testament to Sonya Ryan, the mother of 15-year-old Carly Ryan, who was the first murder victim of an online predator in Australia, and all those who fought for that law, in particular my Nick Xenophon Team colleague Skye Kakoschke-Moore,” he said.
“Let justice take its course, but I have no doubt the law passed only recently will help save thousands of children from harm and protect them from online predators.”
Australian Federal Police Commander Lesa Gale, manager of victim based crime, said the new legislation was fundamental to police being able to prevent crime and protect children from harm.
“We are unwavering in our commitment to take all necessary action to protect children from sexual exploitation,” Commander Gale said.
“I must acknowledge Carly’s mother, Sonya Ryan, who has endured the ultimate pain of losing a child at the hands of an online predator.”
