Social media tragedy alert
WARNINGS about the dangers involved in meeting people online don’t seem to be getting through, particularly to young social media users, says the Commander of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec.
His comments follow the arrest of a 39-year-old man during a vehicle stop in Panania on Monday night who allegedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl he had met on a social media site.
The truck driver from Lurnea has been charged with 17 offences.
Det Supt Kerlatec said the man allegedly sexually assaulted the girl on several occasions at a home and also physically and sexually assaulted the girl in a truck while travelling to Canberra last week.
“You don’t know who you’re dealing with when you meet up with people online,” Det Supt Kerlatec said.
“Cases do occur day in, day out, we put the warnings out, we ask users of social media to be aware, we encourage young people to be aware of whom they’re dealing with, parents and care-givers to pass that message on, we just can’t make it loud enough.”
