During a major crackdown on crime in the Coffs Harbour region of northern NSW, detectives have charged a man following an investigation into alleged sadistic sextortion.
In August 2024, detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation into a Coffs Harbour man following a referral from Queensland Police Service.
It is alleged the man had been grooming a 15-year-old girl he had met online and was threatening her to send videos of herself carrying out various compromising acts such as self-harming and performing sexual acts.
Following investigations, about 7.35am on Wednesday 16 October 2024, strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – attended an address in Safety Beach, approximately 30km north of Coffs Harbour, where they arrested a 28-year-old man.
During a search of the property, police located and seized various electronic devices which will undergo further forensic examination.
The man was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station, where he was charged with using a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child, to do/plan harm to person under 16 years, to groom under 16 years for sex, to threaten to kill, to threaten to serious harm, to send indecent material to person under 16 years, and to cause child sexual activity.
He was refused bail and appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court the same day.
Commander of State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad, Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty, said police are seeing a rise in sadistic sextortion cases.
‘Sadistic sextortion is unlike typical cases of sextortion because the offender is not doing it for financial gain, rather victims are being coerced into producing extreme sexual and violent content,’ Detective Supt Doherty said.
‘We want children to know there is always someone who will listen, and there are things we can do to get you out of any situation, no matter how frightening it is or what the offender is telling you.
‘I hope this incident also acts an alert to parents who may be aware that their children engaging in self-harm that there may be deeper reasons for this that need to be explored with them in a supportive manner.’
Three day operation targeting regional crime
In other Coffs Harbour police news, state crime command and specialist resources have saturated the area in a three-day operation targeting regional crime.
As of this morning (Friday) police have arrested 15 people, laid 77 charges, executed 19 Firearm Prohibition Compliance checks, and seized nine firearms during a three-day deployment to Coffs Harbour.
State Crime Command’s Coffs Harbour surge deployment was a multifaceted operation, led by the Robbery & Serious Crime Squad with the Coffs Clarence Police District, in a bid to disrupt, prevent and target crime in the Coffs Harbour area and surrounds.
The operation ran between Monday 14 October 2024 and Wednesday 16 October 2024 and involved the deployment of over 100 officers attached to State Crime Command, who travelled to Coffs Harbour to work in collaboration with Coffs Clarence Police District and specialised resources including Pol Air, Traffic & Highway Patrol, Dog & Mounted Unit, Youth Command, the Firearm Registry and the NSW Crime Commission.
During the three-day operation, officers conducted 264 Random Breath Tests (RBTs) and 47 Random Drug Tests – eight of which returned a positive result.
Police also conducted four storage inspections at various tobacconists and seized vapes and illegal tobacco approximately $600,000.
Incidents of note include
- About 11am on Tuesday 15 October 2024, officers attached to the Robbery & Serious Crime Squad investigating a number of armed robberies in the area arrested a 43-year-old man and 25-year-old woman in Port Macquarie. They were taken to Port Macquarie Police Station where the man was charged with nine offences relating to alleged break and enters and robberies. He was refused bail and appeared in Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 16 October 2024. The woman was charged with aggravated break & enter dwelling etc in company intend steal <=$60K and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period. She was granted conditional bail to appear in Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 13 November 2024. Police will allege in court the man was involved in an armed robbery at a licenced premises Kew in January, stealing a motor vehicle from a business in Uranga in August, two break and enters in East Ballina and Ballina in August, and two more conspiracies to break and enter.
- About 8am on Tuesday 15 October 2024, officers attached to the Sex Crimes Squad Child Exploitation Internet Unit – with assistance from the Public Order & Riot Squad – executed a search warrant at an address in Coffs Harbour where they arrested a 39-year-old man. During the search, police located a number of electronic devices containing child abuse material, stolen number plates and prohibited drugs. The man was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with two counts of use carriage service to access child abuse material, use carriage service to solicit child abuse material, deal with identity info to commit etc indictable offence, and possess prohibited drug. He was refused bail and appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday 16 October 2024.
- About 7am on Monday 14 October 2024, officers attached to the Drug & Firearms Squad – with assistance from the Public Order & Riot Squad – executed a search warrant in Boambee East where they arrested a 30-year-old man. During the search police located and seized prohibited drugs, items used in a hydraulic block press and electronic devices. The man was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug >indictable & <commercial quantity, four counts of possess prohibited drug, and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday 13 November 2024.
- About 10.15am on Monday 14 October, Raptor Squad officers – with assistance from Traffic & Highway Patrol Command – established a vehicle check point on the Pacific Highway at Halfway Creek in response to a planned Mongols OMCG run. In total, 36 vehicles were stopped and 42 alleged members were processed, photographed and subject to roadside drug and alcohol testing. Three riders will be issued Court Attendance Notices (CANs) for possessing a prohibited weapon, displaying a Nazi symbol in public, and possessing a prescribed restricted substance.
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