A 41-year-old man has been charged with sexual offences against a child on the Sunshine Coast alleged to have occurred last year.
He was arrested on April 5 and charged with seven counts of rape and five counts of indecent treatment of children under 16.
The charges include alleged sex offences against another child between 2009 and 2018 in North Brisbane.
A 49-year-old Mango Hill woman has also been charged for failing to report child sex offences.
It’s alleged she knew the offences being committed by the man but didn’t report it to police.
Sunshine Coast Child Protection Investigation Unit Officer in Charge, Detective Senior Sergeant Kerri Della-Vedova, said offences against children are one of the most horrendous crimes as they target the most vulnerable in our community.
“Offences against children are a priority for the Queensland Police Service and officers work hard to detect and identify those responsible for these vile acts and bring them to justice before the court,” Detective Senior Sergeant Della-Vedova said.
“The community can assist us with reporting these offences so we can help and protect victims of these heinous crimes.
“This is a reminder of recent legislation that reporting of sexual offences to children is mandatory, and not doing so is a criminal offence.
“Reporting offences, as soon as you become aware of it, limits the possibility of further offending against that child, allows police to intervene and begin investigations.
“However, we do understand that this is a complex and challenging issue and sometimes circumstances may impact the ability to safely report.
“Therefore, we do take each case into consideration before commencing a prosecution.
“It may not be safe or practicable to confront it directly, so by reporting it, you give police the opportunity to step in.
“It is really important for us to educate the community about mandatory reporting of offences against a child, regardless of the relationship, or lack of, that you have with the child.
“Protecting our children is everyone’s responsibility.”
If you believe a child is in immediate danger or a life-threatening situation call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
If you have serious concerns relating to the sexual abuse of a child contact Police link on 131 444.
You can also report it in person by visiting a police station and, if needed, ask to speak about a private matter.
