Retired priest thought he was meeting boy for sex, police allege

A retired priest arrested in Sydney yesterday thought he was meeting with a 14-year-old boy for a sexual encounter, police allege.

The 77-year-old was arrested yesterday in Pendle Hill in the city's west at about 12pm yesterday.

He was charged with online grooming-related offences, including sending indecent material to a person under 16.

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NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad commander Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said today the investigation began after Facebook allegedly detected an account sharing child abuse material.

She said Facebook shut that account down and referred the matter to law enforcement.

It was referred to NSW Police in early December.

Doherty said police made contact with the owner of the account, who she alleged was the 77-year-old man arrested yesterday.

She alleged investigators posed as a 14-year-old boy online, and conducted conversations with the man during which he allegedly sent explicit photographs and spoke about sexually explicit activity involving the "boy".

Doherty claimed the man yesterday thought he was meeting that "boy" in Pendle Hill.

Police also seized a number of devices, including multiple USBs, from the man's residence.

He was refused bail and will appear in court today.

The investigation continues.

Doherty urged parents to make sure they were aware of what their children were doing online.

"The internet is like the real world. There are places your children can go on their own, and places they need to be accompanied by you," she said.

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