A 26-year-old Taree man was arrested in Forster today, July 15, following a Strike Force Trawler investigation into the alleged online procuring of a child.
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Detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit began engaging online with the man in May.
"Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually explicit acts he wished to perform with the child and sent her explicit material," a statement from the NSW Police said.
"It will be further alleged that the man arranged to meet the child in person."
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Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested the man at the Forster Main Beach car park today at around 10:50am.
During a search of his car, police located a mattress in the rear of the vehicle.
The man was conveyed to Forster Police Station where he was charged with two counts of use carriage service to solicit child abuse material, possess/control child abuse material using carriage service and use carriage service to procure child under 16 years for sex.
He was refused bail to appear at Forster Local Court today.
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