Teacher charged with grooming former student, possessing abuse material
Police have charged a teacher in south-western Sydney after allegedly grooming a former student and possessing a "large amount" of child abuse material.
Detectives arrested the 35-year-old man when they raided a home in Bardia early yesterday, following the detection of child abuse material linked to a "cloud-based account" in the city's south-west.
During the operation, officers seized electronic devices allegedly containing child abuse material after it was found that the account was allegedly uploading the illicit content.
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Police have charged a teacher in south-western Sydney with alleged child grooming offences and possessing child abuse material. NSW Police
Police allegedly uncovered online communication between the man and a former teenage student, spanning from 2021 to last year.
The full-time teacher was later charged with offences, including possession of child abuse material and causing a child aged 14 and over to make abuse material.
Sex Crimes Squad Commander Adam Powderly called the findings "concerning".
"As a parent, as a community member and experienced police officer, it's very confronting and very concerning when I see trusted members of our community, like educators, allegedly involved in offences like this."
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Sex Crimes Squad Commander Adam Powderly called the findings "concerning". Nine
Powderly said that the alleged victim was previously a student of the 35-year-old and has since been forthcoming and cooperative with police.
"There is a large amount of child abuse material that has been seized.
"That material does not all relate to the victim in this matter that we have identified.
"There may be a likelihood that further victims are involved, further victims may be identified, and further charges pending."
He was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in court next in July.
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Police seized electronic devices and other material during the raid. NSW Police
Powderly said they were notified after receiving a report from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) after it identified the account allegedly sharing the abuse material.
"There are automated systems that are built into these cloud-based platforms.
"They flag any material, videos, imagery that may contain child abuse material," Powderly said.
Those reports are then sent to ACCCE and to the relevant authorities, including police.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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