BY ADRIANA FLAHERTY
Strike Force Trawler have arrested a Newcastle man over allegedly grooming a child online.
Strike Force detectives arrested the 22-year old man yesterday in his Lambton home after months of engaging with him online.
The investigation began in January 2018 when the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) believed the man was sending indecent material to a 14-year-old girl.
The man was charged at Waratah Police Station for using a carriage service to groom a persons under 16 years of age.
A search warrant was granted for police to undertake the search of the property, where investigators found multiple electronic devices that will undergo forensic examination.
He is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 11 April 2019 and until then has been granted strict conditional bail.
Anyone with information about internet predators should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/