Police charge man after image of him allegedly pointing gun at bound children emerges

WARNING: The following article contains distressing content, including information about the alleged abuse of children.

Two men have been charged in separate, unrelated incidents involving children in a town in central Queensland.

A 44-year-old man was arrested after an investigation into alleged weapon and drug offences on a property in Emerald, west of Rockhampton, on May 26.

Police seized a phone from the property, which was allegedly found to contain a picture of two children bound with duct tape.

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Police claimed the man can be seen pointing an apparent firearm at the children.

It will be further alleged the picture was forwarded to several other people.

Detectives have identified the children, both aged just three, and police say the children are safe.

They are known to the man but not related to him.

The 44-year-old man has been charged with unlawful weapon possession, dangerous conduct, and two counts of deprivation of liberty.

He was granted conditional bail and will appear in court in August.

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In a separate and unrelated incident, police charged a 59-year-old man on July 18 with drug supply and child sex offences after concerns were raised by community members.

It's alleged that between June and July this year, the man provided dangerous drugs to a child and committed sexual offences against them.

The man has been charged with rape, grooming a child under 16, supplying drugs to a minor, and breaching bail.

He was refused police bail and will appear in court today.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).