A Batesford man who paid for and encouraged children in the Philippines to engage in sexual activity on video has been jailed for 12 years.
Roger Allan Rivo, 57, was sentenced to a non-parole period of nine years in the County Court last week.
He was caught by the Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) in late 2019 when it received financial intelligence showing he had been sending money to multiple accounts in the Philippines, which it believed was for live distance child abuse.
Australian Federal Police investigators for JACET executed a search warrant at Rivo’s house in January 2020 and found a mobile phone hidden in an ensuite.
This phone was found to contain images of child abuse material and Rivo was arrested and remanded in custody.
Further examination of the phone revealed Skype and WhatsApp conversations with Filipino women where Rivo would request and direct the sexual abuse of pre-pubescent children.
One instance resulted in a child victim being hospitalised as a result of the abuse.
Rivo faced the Geelong County Court earlier this month and pleaded guilty to 11 child abuse charges.
During sentencing on Thursday, judge Trevor Wraight described Rivo’s conduct as reprehensible and said his prospects for rehabilitation were “very poor”.
The court had previously heard the offending happened about one year after Rivo completed a seven-year prison sentence for similar offending.
Rivo had already spent 18 months of his sentence in custody while on remand.
Detective acting superintendent Jarrod Ragg said the AFP was committed to tracking down and charging anyone involved in child exploitation and sexual abuse of children.
“The AFP works closely with Philippine authorities and all our national and domestic partners to detect and disrupt child sex offenders no matter where their victims are located,” he said.
“The offences in this matter were horrific. Young children suffered traumatic physical abuse, while the scars on their development and mental health can’t be undone and will impact them the rest of their lives.
“AFP investigators are committed to tracking down those responsible for inflicting this harm and bringing them to account for their despicable acts.”
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protection children online can be found at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
