A Queensland University of Technology law lecturer posed as pop star Justin Bieber in order to procure underage children from overseas, a court has heard.
News.com.au reports that 42-year-old Gordon Douglas Chalmers has been charged for 941 child sex offences. He allegedly used Facebook and Skype to impersonate the Canadian singer and get fans to send sexual images.
He was charged with indecent treatment of children, making child exploitation material, using a carriage service to procure person under 16, using a carriage service for child pornography material, and more.
He allegedly used a carriage service to groom and procure children under 16, possessing child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child porn, reports Seven News.
Detective Inspector Rouse commented that Chalmers’ actions “are frankly horrendous and I want to recognise the efforts and commitment of the investigative team at Taskforce Argos to keeping children safe.”
The 41-year-old’s Kenmore home was raided by police in November last year after tip offs from German and US authorities.
“The defendant has adopted the guise of celebrity Justin Bieber and during the process of that, has contacted the children over the internet – children performing sexual acts for the defendant’s gratification,” Police prosecutor Sergeant Henri Rantala told the court.
“His activities on the internet were detected by German Federal Police and Homeland Security in the United States,” Sgt Rantala said, with the court hearing he had a skype account with 6,000, “the majority” of whom were children.
Chalmers was denied bail over concerns he would destroy evidence.
“Given the nature of the offences, the nature of the evidence available, and his response to the lawful direction… he is an unacceptable risk of offending,” said the Magistrate.
The offences allegedly date back to 2007.
