A UMINA Beach man, 23, accused of using an online chat website to search for children for sexual activity has been refused bail in Gosford Local Court.
Kane Houlden was arrested by Australian Federal Police child protection investigators on Thursday after the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The report identified a user of online chat website Omegle - which randomly pairs users in one-on-one chat sessions and uses the tagline "Talk to strangers!" - was using the platform to advertise their search for underage children for sexual activity.
Police allege they were able to link the IP addresses and mobile phone number associated with the advertisement to Mr Houlden.
AFP police investigators say they also received other information from NSW Police that the same man was allegedly engaging with teenagers to procure them for sex.
Police raided the 23-year-old's home at Umina Beach on Thursday and seized a mobile phone, laptop and several SIM cards.
The devices will be subject to forensic examination, police said.
Mr Houlden was arrested and charged with using a carriage service to procure a person under the age of 16 for sexual activity, which carries a maximum of 10 years in jail.
Mr Houlden appeared in Gosford Local Court on Friday where he did not enter a plea.
He applied for bail but it was refused and the matter was adjourned until Monday.
Australian Federal Police Acting Sergeant Adam Barcham said the AFP works closely with state and territory police to ensure those who cause considerable damage to the most innocent in our society are charged and prosecuted.
"Our partnerships mean we can share information at any point in time, during search warrants and even after an individual has been charged and stop child predators before they can cause further harm to our children," Acting Sergeant Barcham said.
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