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Police arrest NSW man who 'thought he was meeting 13-year-old girl for sex'

A NSW man who allegedly thought he was meeting a 13-year-old girl he groomed for sex was intercepted by police instead, and charged.

Pictures released by the NSW Police Force show the Coffs Coast man being caught after unknowingly engaging with NSW Sex Crimes Squad officers online since March.

During the numerous sexually explicit chats, the 47-year-old engaged with what he believed was a 13-year-old child, and made arrangements to meet her for sex, police will allege.

A NSW man who allegedly thought he was meeting a 13-year-old girl he groomed for sex, was instead intercepted by police and charged. Picture: NSW Police Force
A NSW man who allegedly thought he was meeting a 13-year-old girl he groomed for sex, was instead intercepted by police and charged. Picture: NSW Police Force

The officers pounced on Tuesday at 10am, when the man thought he was about to meet the young girl who police posed as online.

Detectives also executed a search warrant at a home in Woolgoolga, where they seized a computer and electronic storage devices.

The man was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station and charged with two counts of using a carriage service to groom persons under 16, and using a carriage service to procure persons under 16.


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He will face Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday after being charged for allegedly grooming and procuring a child online and being refused bail following his arrest.

“Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) investigation into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices,” NSW Police said in a statement.

The 47-year-old engaged in online chats with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl, and made arrangements to meet for sex, police will allege. Picture: NSW Police Force
The 47-year-old engaged in online chats with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl, and made arrangements to meet for sex, police will allege. Picture: NSW Police Force

“Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the Child Exploitation Internet Unit and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.