A 42-year-old man in Queensland, Australia, has been charged with 931 child sex offenses after posing as Justin Bieber online in order to solicit explicit images from young children.
According to the Queensland Police, the man had previously been charged with numerous child sex offenses, including "possessing child exploitation material and using a carriage service to groom persons under 16."
As part of that investigation, the man's computer was examined and illicit material was discovered.
The man allegedly used Facebook, Skype and other online platforms to communicate with his victims with offenses dating back to at least 2007. He is now being charged on offenses of rape, indecent treatment of children, making child exploitation material, using a carriage service to procure person under 16, and using a carriage service for child pornography material.
"This investigation demonstrates both the vulnerability of children that are utilising social media and communication applications and the global reach and skill that child sex offenders have to groom and seduce victims," Detective Inspector Jon Rouse said in a statement.
"The fact that so many children could believe that they were communicating with this particular celebrity highlights the need for a serious rethink about the way that we as a society educate our children about online safety. The breadth of offences committed in this instance are frankly horrendous and I want to recognise the efforts and commitment of the investigative team at Taskforce Argos to keeping children safe."
