Riverina man pleads guilty to accessing child abuse material online

Detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) commenced the investigation in July 2023. Photo: NSW Police.

A 69-year-old Albury man has pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to access child abuse material following an investigation by the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad.

Graham Nugent faced Wagga Wagga Local Court on Wednesday (14 February) and pleaded guilty before Magistrate Phillip Stewart.

Police said detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) commenced their investigation in July 2023 after a man allegedly used a peer-to-peer file-sharing application to access child abuse material online.

Following investigations, detectives from Strike Force Trident attended a home in Wagga Wagga where they arrested Nugent at about 7 am on Tuesday (8 August).

Nugent was granted bail later that month on conditions including not entering any international airport or other points of departure from Australia and that he relinquish his passport to Wagga Wagga Police. He must also live in Albury, and internet access is limited to one mobile phone.

Nugent is required to follow his bail conditions until he appears before Wagga Wagga District Court on 22 March for sentencing.

The Sex Crimes Squad comprises a number of investigative teams that lead investigations into adult sex offenders, including the Child Exploitation Internet Unit, Child Protection Register and Extended Supervision Order teams.

Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices. The CEIU conducts regular covert online investigations, and police in NSW work closely with their law enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.

Strike Force Trident is another ongoing investigation by the CEIU relating to persons using peer-to-peer technology and applications to disseminate and exchange child abuse material online.

Anyone with information about the dissemination of child abuse material online is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Crime Stoppers online. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.