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Eight men arrested in WA over child abuse against teenage girl
news.com.au
[with video] ONE of eight men charged with the horrific sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl in WA over a two-year period is her father who allegedly “facilitated” the paedophile ring, WA Police have revealed. Another man charged is Perth pastor and the former head of the WA Prison Fellowship Program, David Volmer. Child sex abuse detectives arrested the eight men, who are aged between 35 and 47, after a tip-off from the public in April led to the rescue of the girl. As an example of the shocking nature of the alleged offences, police said one man was in possession of 200,000 videos and four million images involving child exploitation. The men have been charged with a total of 503 offences including sexual penetration of a child under 13, indecent dealing with a child under 13, indecent recording of a child under 13, distribution of child exploitation material, stupefying with intent to commit an indictable offence and sexual servitude of a child. The offences allegedly happened when the girl was between the ages of 11 and 13. She is now safe and in care, receiving treatment, police said. Police allege the girl’s father organised for the seven other men — who were not linked by any group — to meet her at various locations where the abuse happened. The Sunday Times revealed earlier this month that Volmer, a married father of two from Banksia Grove who is also known as Dawid Volmer, had been charged with and pleaded guilty to a dozen offences. His offences include three counts each of sexual penetration of a child over 13 and under 16, indecently dealing with a child under 13, indecently dealing with a child over 13 and under 16 and stupefying in order to commit an indictable offence. As part of Operation Ripstop, the seven other men charged were: — The victim’s father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, charged with 228 offences due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on August 19 — Ryan Trevor Clegg, 42, from Attadale charged with 61 offences. He is due in Perth Magistrates Court on August 17 — Nicholas Adam Beer, 35, from Wanneroo charged with 163 offences. He will face Joondalup Magistrates Court on August 19 — Alfred John Impicciatore, 45, from Wembley charged with four offences. He is due to appear in Joondalup Magistrates Court on July 31 —Mark Wesley Liggins, 47, from Coodanup charged with 10 offences who will appear in Mandurah Magistrates Court on August 4 — Troy Phillip Milbourne, 41, from South Bunbury charged with 10 offences who will face Bunbury Magistrates Court on August 6 — Benjamin Simon Clarke, 47, from Bedfordale charged with 15 offences who is due in Joondalup Magistrates Court on September 2 All men have faced court for the first time but it’s understood most of them have not yet entered any pleas. Volmer, 41, pleaded guilty on July 1 and is on bail to face the District Court next month. Originally from South Africa, Volmer set up a branch of the South African Acts Christian Church in Carramar and became state executive director of the Prison Fellowship Program, a religious outreach scheme for inmates. He resigned from that position in late June. After news broke of his charges, the international heads of Acts Christian Church, Reverend Peter de Fin, told The Sunday Times he was travelling to Perth to apologise to the victim and ask her to “forgive us for failing you”. “The allegations, to which Pastor Volmer has confessed, are a betrayal of the trust that the people place in a minister of the church,” he said. “We offer no excuses for such disgraceful and disgusting behaviour.” Detective Superintendent Glenn Feeney, of the Sex Crime Division, said on Wednesday that police acted rapidly, with the priority being ensuring the child’s safety. “The child was still in a situation where this could, had we not known, had we not been advised, could have continued,” he said. “Physically when the police first intervened, she was physically OK. Psychologically I can’t answer but she will receive and will need a lot of help from that side of things for a long time, I’d say.” Det Supt Feeney said it would be alleged that each offender knew the girl’s father and it was the father who shared his daughter with the others as well as abusing her himself. He described it as an “ongoing investigation”. He said police had found about 150 images and videos involving this particular victim, describing the material in general as “disgusting”. “The common denominator was they all had known the father. Clearly there was electronic media used to communicate, hence we seized all the electronic devices that the (men) had,” he said. “We’re just continuing the investigation into any other possible offenders, at the moment and it’s ongoing. As I said, we won’t stop until we completely exhaust that investigation. Det Supt Feeney said any sex abuse, particularly against children, was “beyond words” and sadly in this line of work police saw “the dark, evil side of human nature”. “It just goes to the heart of being a parent,” he said. “Whether it’s a parent or a relation or a close family friend or teachers or anyone in a position of trust you would expect them not to do these things.” All eight men have already faced court for the first time on these charges. One man has already pleaded guilty. Anyone with information relating to child abuse or exploitation is urged to call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
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