Sydney man charged for child sex doll, AI-generated abuse material

Federal authorities have swooped on a Sydney man, alleging he imported a “vile” sex doll and generated “horrific” abuse material using artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, NSW Police have arrested one of their own, alleging a senior constable was disseminating child abuse material.

In August, the Australian Border Force investigated a shipment coming into Sydney from Asia.

Inside was a sex doll in the likeness of a child. The doll was seized and investigations began.

On 8 September, border force and officers from the Australian Federal Police searched a home at Lalor Park, in Sydney’s west, where they spoke to a 59-year-old man.

Digital devices and children’s clothing were allegedly seized from the home.

Inside the devices, investigators allegedly uncovered a “significant amount of AI-generated child abuse material” and importation documents for a child-like sex doll.

On Thursday, the officers returned to the Lalor Park home to arrest the man, named in court documents as Neil Gardoll.

Police footage released to the Herald shows Gardoll being handcuffed in the front yard and placed in an unmarked police vehicle.

He was taken to Blacktown Police Station and charged with importing “tier 2 goods”, which includes items depicting a person under the age of 18.

He was also charged with one count each of producing and possessing child abuse material. Each offence carries a maximum sentence of 15 years jail.

“These vile dolls and this digital material have no place in Australian society, our officers are always on the lookout for these videos and images coming through our airports and at packages which are coming to our shores,” ABF Superintendent Shaun Baker said in a statement.

“The use of child-like sex dolls abhorrently normalises child exploitation and is far from being a victimless crime.”

The ABF said it uses intelligence and technology in the ports to detect items, including sex dolls, as they enter the country.

“Our investigators work tirelessly alongside our partners across Australia and around the world to prevent the abuse of children and ensure offenders are put before the courts to face justice,” AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said.

“The message could not be clearer – if you engage in these horrific activities, you will be found, charged and prosecuted.”

Meanwhile, on Saturday morning NSW Police said Senior Constable Aslim Mohammed Khan had been charged with three counts of online child abuse material.

The Professional Standards Command had been investigating the sharing of online abuse material under Strike Force Harmonic this month before executing warrants at a home in Sydney’s south-west.

Khan, 39, was taken to hospital for assessment while electronic devices were seized for further investigation.

The officer was suspended, without pay, and will face Parramatta Local Court later on Saturday. There is no suggestion Khan’s case is linked to the Australia Border Police investigations.

In July, Commonwealth law enforcement said they had detected “a disturbing rise in attemp​ted importations of child-like sex dolls into NSW”.

Silicone dolls bound for suburbs in the Hunter, Newcastle and Central Coast were among the seven search warrants and six prosecutions that followed.

AI-generated abuse material has been identified as a rising threat against children by the Commonwealth authorities and their international partners.

Two Australian men, one in NSW and a second in Queensland, were among 25 snared in a global crackdown on such material led by Danish police earlier this year.

Danish law enforcement allegedly identified 273 subscribers in 19 countries, including Australia.

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