Sex Crimes Squad detectives have charged a Tamworth man for allegedly paying for and streaming the live abuse of children overseas under Strike Force Trawler.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
In July 2025, strike force detectives received a referral from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) regarding a 69-year-old man who was suspected of purchasing live child abuse material from the Philippines.
Alan David Smith, a well known advertising sales consultant understood to be employed by the Northern Daily Leader, remains behind bars tonight after being charged with paying people in the Phillipines to watch a live stream of children being sexually assaulted. He had already been charged and sentenced to 9 months suspended sentence for a similar offence.
Following extensive inquiries, about 8.20am yesterday (Monday 8 December 2025), strike force detectives arrested a 69-year-old man in West Tamworth.
During a search of his home, detectives seized electronics allegedly containing child abuse media files.
He was taken to Tamworth Police Station, where he was charged with three counts of use carriage service-solicit child abuse material, use carriage service make available child abuse, three counts of possess etc child abuse data-use carriage service, two counts of possess child abuse material and possess/attempt to, prescribed restricted substance.
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