A 32-year-old man has been charged with numerous sex offences relating to seven children that were in his care while he was employed by Families South Australia.
For anyone who believes they may have information relating to this investigation they should contact Luke’s Army – [email protected]
The man was arrested on June 6 when police were tipped off someone was spreading child porn, but there was no immediate link to his alleged victims.
It was only after his house was searched on June 9 officers discovered evidence of the alleged sexual abuse.
At the time of the alleged offending he was employed with Families SA caring for children in a Government-run residential care facility and at an Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) service.
Police will allege that all the victims were in the man’s care at the residential facility and not the OSHC service.
He has been charged with
• seven counts of unlawful sexual intercourse
• aggravated production of child exploitation material
• aggravated dissemination of child exploitation material
• aggravated possession of child exploitation material.
When the charges were laid police didn’t know who the victims were, where the offending was said to have taken place or when.
Detectives from Special Crime Investigation Branch have had to analyse more than 100,000 still images and 600 video files.
Last week they identified the victims with the help of specialist sex crime investigators who worked with South Australian police computer analysts to identify the victims.
Part of that work required comparing the images of victims against information held by Familes SA.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has appeared in court in Adelaide and remanded in custody until next month.
Police and Families SA are currently informing the parents of the seven children of the alleged offending.
David Waterford, Deputy Chief Executive (Child Safety) for DECD said the parents and caregivers of these children would be provided with full support from Families SA and Child Protection Services.
At least seven children have been identified by police as alleged sexual abuse victims of
At least seven children have been identified by police as alleged sexual abuse victims of a 32-year-old Families SA carer Source: Supplied
“We are working very closely with SA Police to visit the families and carers and ensure they have all the support they need.
“Our department will also be working with the school that provided the out of school hours and vacation care services to make sure that parents are also notified of the alleged offending.
“For an organisation that has the care and concern of vulnerable children as its foremost priority, this is a disturbing and horrifying matter.”
Police and Families SA are currently informing the parents of the seven children of the alleged offending.
Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Paul Dickson said he was “abhorred” by the crimes, as a father and police officer.
“This investigation can best be described as horrific — horrific for the victims and their families and a terrible task for the police who have worked tirelessly to review these images.
“But I want to assure the public that our very clear objective is to identify all victims of this alleged abuse, and provide them and their families with the support they need,
He warned the investigation may take months to complete — and there could be other victims.
“This investigation will remain a priority for police,” he said.
“The offending we have identified so far occurred in an 18 month period between mid 2011 and the end of 2012.
“At this point we have not identified any other offenders, but we will not know if the alleged offender was acting alone or with others until the investigation is complete.
“If we do identify more victims, their parents or guardians will be advised as a priority and will be supported.”
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