A Victorian man has been sentenced to nearly three years behind bars after being caught with hundreds of child abuse files on his phone at Melbourne Airport during a baggage check.
The Doncaster man, 59, had his baggage searched by Australian Border Force officers after arriving at Melbourne Airport from an international flight in August 2024.
During an examination of his phone, officers identified files believed to be child abuse material and seized the device.
Subsequent investigations found 570 child abuse files on the man’s mobile phone.
On August 19, the man appeared at the County Court of Victoria, where he pleaded guilty to various charges.
Those charges were possessing child abuse material, using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material and importing prohibited imports.
He has been sentenced to more than two and a half years behind bars.
ABF Acting Superintendent Peter Alderson said the force would use the “full weight” of the law against those possessing child abuse material.
“The ABF remains committed to tackling child exploitation and we continue to target and intercept anyone posing a threat, particularly those who perpetrate crimes against the most vulnerable within our community,” Acting Superintendent Alderson said.
“Child abuse and child abuse material is horrific – we will use the full weight of the law against anyone who attempts to circumvent border controls and acts in contravention of our laws.”
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