Neil Andrew Lyall Robards was picked up by the Australian Federal Police in February 2020 returning to Australia, where officers found his laptop, phone and a USB drive containing child abuse images.

He was charged with obtaining child abuse material outside Australia, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, preparing for or planning sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia, encouraging sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia and using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material.

The AFP officers says Robards sent money to people in Thailand and the Philippines to facilitate the sexual abuse of children.

Following his arrest, Philippines authorities executed a search warrant on the island of Mindanao.

Seven children, aged between 3 and 14, were rescued from further online sexual exploitation and one woman arrested. She remains before the court in the Philippines.

AFP Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling said the operation showed how the AFP works with partners in Australia and overseas to target those abusing children.

"The AFP is working around-the-clock with our international and domestic law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who seek to do harm to children," she said.

Robards, who was sentenced in Brisbane District Court on Thursday, will eligible for parole after two years.

Australian Associated Press