A Queensland man has been charged with hundreds of child sexual abuse-related offences, allegedly grooming and co-ercing hundreds of children across Australia and overseas in a sprawling online exploitation case, police confirmed this week. The charges stem from an extensive investigation into thousands of sexually abusive images and videos linked to 459 suspected child victims, making it one of the most disturbing online child abuse cases to emerge in Australia.
Massive Investigation Uncovers Vast Digital Evidence
Queensland Police allege the 27-year-old suspect used multiple fake online profiles to target children on social media and gaming platforms over several years, including Snapchat, Instagram, Fortnite and Roblox, according to authorities. The man, who has not been publicly named by police due to ongoing legal processes, was initially arrested in February 2025 after detectives seized electronic devices during a raid on his home in Maryborough, about 230 km north of Brisbane.
Investigators from the Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group say more than 23,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material were found on the alleged offender’s devices, which police believe reflect interactions with hundreds of victims. Detectives have identified 360 of the 459 suspected victims so far, with inquiries continuing alongside interstate and international partners.
Charges Reflect Scale and Severity of Alleged Abuse
The accused faces 596 offences connected to the alleged online offending. These include:
- 244 counts of producing child abuse material for use through a telecommunications service;
- 163 counts of using a carriage service to procure persons under 16;
- 87 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child using a carriage service.
Police allege he “actively targeted children” primarily aged between five and 15 years, mostly male, and that the offending spanned from 2018 until his arrest in 2025. Authorities say he recorded interactions and meticulously stored them in organised digital folders, complicating the identification and forensic analysis of victims.
Operation Xray Wick: A Coordinated Law Enforcement Response
Queensland Police have described the lengthy probe, code-named Operation Xray Wick, as highly complex and resource-intensive. Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Denzil Clark stressed that coordinated efforts among child abuse detectives, forensic experts, and international law enforcement were critical in identifying the sheer volume of evidence and linking it to suspected victims.
“Due to the volume of images and videos of children on the alleged offender’s devices, the process of identification took time, skill and commitment,” Clark said in a statement. He described the alleged offending as “extremely concerning and disturbing” and emphasised the emotional trauma such exploitation inflicts on children and families.
Targeting Children Through Social Media and Gaming
Police allege the man used both male and female aliases to engage with children online and groom them into sending explicit material. Detectives say social media and online gaming communities are increasingly exploited by offenders for grooming and coercion, citing the widespread and unsupervised access minors have to digital platforms.
Authorities have urged parents and caregivers to remain vigilant about children’s online interactions and to actively monitor the games, apps, and social networks used by young people. Digital safety experts say that grooming often starts with seemingly innocuous contact that can quickly escalate to coercion and abuse.
Legal Proceedings and Victim Support
The Queensland man is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates’ Court in the coming days. Police confirm that investigations remain ongoing, with efforts to identify all alleged victims and provide them with appropriate support and counselling. Victim support services have been mobilised, and authorities are working with international law enforcement to address cross-border elements of the case.
In light of the case, Queensland Police continue to emphasise the importance of community cooperation in combatting online child exploitation. “Our investigators will not stop,” Clark said, urging anyone with information to contact authorities and support efforts to protect vulnerable children.
Broader Context of Online Child Safety
The case has reignited discussion across Australia about child safety in the digital age, including debates on stricter regulation of social media and stronger protections for minors online. Last year, new federal legislation banning social media access for users under 16 came into effect, part of wider efforts to address the risks children face in unregulated online spaces.
Child welfare advocates say that while legislation helps, greater education, parental oversight and platform accountability are critical to preventing grooming and exploitation. Experts stress that online safety must be integrated into broader child protection strategies as technology evolves.
As investigations continue, police and child protection agencies are focusing on both bringing perpetrators to justice and improving prevention measures to safeguard children across communities.
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