Geraldton man charged with more than 100 child sex abuse offences

A 70-year-old Geraldton man has faced court charged with more than 100 child sex abuse offences after allegedly paying to watch children being abused live on camera.

Phillip John Ryan was arrested in September last year through a joint operation between Australian Federal Police and Western Australia Police and charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material.

A further 68 charges were added in April this year after WA Joint Anti Child ExploitationTeam found Ryan was ordering “live-distance” child abuse, which he watched from his home in the Mid-West.

WA Police say Ryan made more than 860 payments to multiple entities in the Philippines, with records showing he sent more than $443,000 overseas.

The man’s charges include 10 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child outside Australia, eight counts of procuring a child outside Australia for sexual activity, 14 counts of using a carriage service to access child pornography material, five counts of using a carriage service to solicit child pornography material three counts of using a carriage service to procure a child for sexual activity, and one count of using a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child.

The maximum penalty for these offences is 20 years’ imprisonment.

The man, who faced court yesterday, had his matter adjourned until September. He will be remanded in custody and expected to appear at Geraldton Magistrate’s Court next month.

AFP Detective Superintendent Graeme Marshall said they work tirelessly with partners around the world to protect children from these “abhorrent crimes” and catch perpetrators.

“Anyone who pays for children to be sexually abused is just as responsible for the life-long harm it causes as the people who are physically hurting them,” Detective Superintendent Marshall said.

“Being in another country makes no difference to your guilt and you are not anonymous — we can identify you,” he said.

WA JACET is working closely with the AFP to identify child victims and remove them from harm, as well as identify any alleged child abuse facilitators.