Queensland Police have charged a 27-year-old man with 596 child abuse-related offences, following a year-long investigation of more than 23,000 videos and images.
So far, police have identified 360 child victims in Australia and around the world, the majority of whom were aged between seven and 15.
Police allege the man actively targeted children through social media, and “groomed, coerced and threatened” them to create and share sexual images.
Here’s what we know.
Investigation
Police first arrested the man in February 2025 at his home in north-east Queensland and seized his electronic devices.
He has been in custody ever since.
Over the following year, digital forensics teams worked through the devices and found more than 23,000 videos and images.
Currently, the teams believe there are 459 victims globally. They have identified 259 in Australia so far, and another 99 overseas.
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Police say the man targeted children mainly between seven and 15-years-old on social media and gaming platforms from 2018 to 2025.
He allegedly created fake profiles pretending to be different people (both male and female) to coerce or threaten kids into sharing explicit images and videos.
The material was then organised into named folders.
Queensland Police say they have observed an “increasing prevalence” of children being targeted online.
Charges
The charges include using online services to both groom children under 16 and engage in sexual activity with children.
Police say they have identified 360 of the child victims in Australia and around the world, and are working to find the others.
Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Denzil Clark called it “extremely concerning and disturbing offending.”
The case was heard in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.
