A man posing as pop superstar Justin Bieber has been charged with more than 900 child sex offences, including rape, following an elaborate sting by Queensland police.
The 42-year-old man was arrested after he was caught impersonating the celebrity in order to solicit images from young children.
The man was already facing multiple child sex offences when detectives from anti-child exploitation task force Argos allegedly discovered hundreds of incriminating photographs on his computer.
As a result, he was charged with an additional 931 child sex offences, including, 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 released this morning.It will be alleged that the man used multiple online platforms including Facebook and Skype to communicate with his victims.
"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."
It is alleged his offending dates back to at least 2007.
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