A childcare worker has been charged with allegedly filming child abuse material at the centre where he was employed.
The man, aged in his 20s, worked at a care centre in Sydney‘s north and was initially arrested by Australian Federal Police in September.
He was charged with refusing to grant police access to his phone before investigators found alleged evidence of child abuse of kids under his care.
Evidence suggests the material involved ‘prepubescent boys’, some of who were aged between three and six years old.
Police believe the material was produced between 2021 and July 2024, just weeks before he was arrested and charged.
Last week, the AFP laid ten more charges, before he faced Sydney’s Downing Centre on Tuesday.
Australian Federal Police have charged a childcare worker for allegedly making child abuse material of kids as young as three-years-old under his care (stock image)
They include six counts of aggravated use of a child to make abuse material, two counts of sexually touching a child under 10 and two counts of using a child to make abuse material.
A court order has barred news media from publishing his name while investigators identify potential victims.
Court documents obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald laid out a number of disturbing allegations prosecutors intend to pursue in court.
It includes claims the man filmed young boys as they used the bathroom at the daycare and pleasured himself in a classroom in front of children.
A prosecutor warned the court that there are ‘child victims yet to be identified’ due to the extensive timeframe of alleged offending.
Police alleged the abuse took place between between 2021 and July 2024, just weeks before he was first arrested and charged (stock image)
They argued his name, or the name of the daycare, should be banned from being published as it ‘would cause hysteria’ among parents whose children attend.
The AFP supported the prosecutor’s request to avoid causing ‘psychological harm’ toward the alleged victims and their parents and carers.
Investigations remain ongoing.