Man on sex blackmail charges

A 31-year-old Broadmeadows man was charged last Tuesday with the
sexual exploitation of girls via an internet chat site, while a
19-year-old Essendon man faced similar charges the previous week. 

It is
alleged the 31-year-old man contacted an 11-year-old girl and a
15-year-old girl via the Kik social networking site and coerced them
into sending him sexually explicit videos of themselves. 

A search
warrant was executed by Taskforce Astraea at his Broadmeadows home and
computer equipment was seized. 

The man was charged with blackmail and
using a carriage service to procure child pornography. 

He appeared at
Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday. 

Detective Sergeant Peter
Dodemaide of Taskforce Astraea encouraged parents to make sure they were
aware of their children’s internet activity.