Man, 37, Jailed for Posing ‘Imminent’ Risk to Children After Authorities Uncover Soundproofed Attic and Abduction Plans

NEED TO KNOW

• A man in Australia has been jailed after authorities deemed he posed a “serious and imminent” risk to children

• The 37-year-old, identified by multiple outlets as Jason William Forbes from Perth first came to the attention of authorities when they intercepted his attempts to purchase a child-like sex doll

• They subsequently uncovered Forbes’ soundproofed attic, internet search history consistent with planned child abuse and abduction and over 77,000 pieces of footage of child abuse categorized as “extremely depraved”

A man who posed a “serious and imminent” risk to children in Australia has been jailed.

On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Western Australia Police Force confirmed in a press release that a 37-year-old man from Perth had been jailed after authorities disrupted his plot against children.

The offender, who has been identified as Jason William Forbes, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), 7News and news.com.au, was sentenced to seven years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple offenses.

“A joint investigation by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Western Australia Police Force has successfully disrupted planned offending against children, after early detection measures identified a Perth man preparing to harm a child,” authorities wrote in the release.

Officials said the investigation began in mid-2024 after police intercepted an attempt to import “a prohibited child-like sex doll.”

Authorities then began collaborating with the WA Police Child Exploitation Operations Squad.

PEOPLE has contacted Western Australia Police for further comment, but didn’t immediately receive a response.

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After a search warrant was carried out at Forbes’ home, officers found “extensive preparatory behaviour consistent with planned child abduction and abuse.”

“This included digital research, physical planning, and environmental modifications assessed as presenting a serious and imminent risk to children,” the release added.

Following the investigation, police were able to arrest the man, and he later pleaded guilty to charges that included attempting to possess child-like sex dolls, using a carriage service to prepare or plan to engage in sexual activity with a child under 16, and possessing child exploitation material.

Speaking at a press conference, Sex Crime Division Detective Acting Superintendent Eamon Flanagan said, “It was clear that there was serious and imminent risk if there had been any delay in this investigation.”

Not only had Forbes planned to kidnap a girl by pretending to be a police officer, he also made a soundproofed attic after researching how to construct a panic room, according to ABC, which cited authorities.

Authorities also found nappies, children’s underwear and fake police badges in the man’s home, the outlet reported. Over 77,000 pieces of footage of child abuse categorized in court as “extremely depraved” were also discovered.

The offender additionally used his car to film children and visited nearby childcare centres, per ABC.

Forbes’ online search history included terms such as “volunteer childcare work near me”, “volunteer Baldivis”, and “safety house sign or badge”, the outlet reported.

Forbes could be eligible for parole near the end of 2029, according to ABC.

Read the original article on People