NSW Police began investigating in August following a referral from Queensland Police.

Detectives allege the 28-year-old man had been grooming a 15-year-old girl he met online and threatened her into sending videos of herself self-harming and performing sexual acts.

The man was arrested at Safety Beach on the NSW north coast on Wednesday, when police seized several electronic devices.

He was charged with a suite of offences, including using a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child, harming a person under 16, grooming someone under 16 for sex, threatening to kill, threatening serious harm and causing child sexual activity.

He was refused bail and appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday.

Sex Crimes Squad commander Jayne Doherty said police were seeing a rise in sadistic sextortion cases.

“Sadistic sextortion is unlike typical cases of sextortion because the offender is not doing it for financial gain, rather victims are being coerced into producing extreme sexual and violent content,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.

“We want children to know there is always someone who will listen and there are things we can do to get you out of any situation, no matter how frightening it is or what the offender is telling you.”

Federal police have also recorded a surge in sextortion cases, including about 300 reports per month of cases involving children as of late 2023.

That year, one Australian boy took his own life after allegedly being scammed by Nigerian criminals posing as a white woman.

It is alleged the cyber criminals threatened to share the boy’s photos with his family and friends if he did not pay $500.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)