Child exploitation offences, Mackay District
Mackay District police have charged a 28-year-old man with child exploitation offences after he allegedly preyed on teenage girls on-line using a fake social media profile.
Police will allege that in 2016 the man established a fake profile, name and images on a social networking site, with the intent of tricking teenage girls in the Bowen and Whitsunday areas.
Police were contacted by the parents of two teens in late 2017 after they discovered inappropriate and illegal content had allegedly been sent to their children by the fake profile ‘Luke Norbit’.
Police investigating the alleged offences are appealing for anyone who may have had on-line social media contact with a person / profile by the name of ‘Luke Norbit’ to contact them if:
- They, or someone they know, personally or indirectly knows this person;
- They, or someone they know, had online contact with this account;
- The person is asked for, received, or supplied inappropriate on-line content or images; or
- The person started using threatening language.
Before the fake social media ‘Luke Norbit’ account was shut down in early 2018, it had over 600 ‘friends’ – most believed to be teenage girls.
The on-line world can be a place full of illusions and trickery, placing the most vulnerable members of our communities, and those on-line the most often, our children, at significant risk. The Office of the e-safety Commissioner has readily available resources for parents and children regarding on-line safety and ways to avoid predatory behaviour on the internet. The Queensland Police Service (QPS) encourages everyone to visit their site at https://www.esafety.gov.au/
The QPS has also prepared a ‘Whose chatting to your kids’ brochure which can be found at
https://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/cscp/personalSafety/children/childProtection/
The 28-year-old man has been charged with four offences in relation to two victims including using the internet to procure a child under the age of 16, and indecent treatment of a child under the age of 16. He is due to appear in Bowen Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Police would also like to thank the relevant social media site for their assistance in investigating these incidents.
Detective Inspector Brendan Smith will be available to address the media in relation to this investigation. He will also discuss weapons charges as mentioned in this blog post: https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/mackay/2018/06/04/weapons-charges-mackay/
WHEN: 12.30pm today, June 4 2018
WHERE: Brisbane Street police complex
