Two NSW men have been sentenced to a combined 63 years in jail for child abuse offences, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has confirmed.
The men, one of whom was a childcare worker, pleaded guilty in 2022 to a combined 354 child abuse offences involving at least 30 victims.
A 30-year-old was convicted of 248 offences and sentenced to 37 years behind bars. A 25-year-old man was convicted of 106 offences and handed a prison sentence of 26 years.
AFP operation
The AFP established a special operation to dismantle an online child sex offender ring after it received information from U.S. authorities in 2020.
The operation led to the arrests of 25 people, including the NSW men. In total, the AFP charged those involved with 1350 offences.
AFP Commander Kate Ferry said the taskforce uncovered “some of the worst offending” police had “ever seen.”
NSW men
Ferry said the two NSW men were “perhaps the most disturbing representation of what child sex offenders are capable of”.
She said the “systemic” abuse “by people who have been entrusted with so much responsibility” took place over many years and locations.
The offences included multiple counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10. The 30-year-old was given a non-parole period of 26 years. The 25-year-old will be eligible for parole in 16 years and nine months.
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