Man charged after he 'paid to watch child sex shows'

Afraid child
A man has fronted a Queensland court after being charged with 34 online child abuse offences. -AAP Image

A man has been accused of paying to watch children being sexually abused online in dozens of overseas live shows.

Christopher David Louis, 38, has appeared in a far north Queensland court after being charged with 34 online child abuse offences.

Louis was arrested following a tip-off to the Australian Federal Police (AFP)'s anti-child exploitation hub almost two years ago.

The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation received information in 2024 about someone allegedly being in contact with a known child abuse facilitator in the Philippines.

The AFP on Monday said officers raided a man's home in Innisfail in January 2025, seizing seven electronic devices.

A forensic examination allegedly uncovered more than 8000 child abuse videos and images.

Police allege the man paid to access more than 40 live sex shows on social media, during which four girls in the Philippines were abused.

They also said he paid to watch a child being sexually abused on video.

He was first charged in January 2025 with possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.

The 38-year-old now faces another 33 offences, including persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, making and sending child abuse material, soliciting it and grooming a child overseas.

Louis appeared in Innisfail Magistrates Court on Monday and will reappear on July 6.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said children were not objects to be harmed for the gratification of predators.

"The AFP works closely with police around the world to combat the exploitation and abuse of children," he said.

"Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live, and to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts."

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028