The tentacles of a satanic paedophile ring, allegedly operated by a group of Sydney men including a self-styled journalist, a swimming coach and an ex-cop, have spread across the world with almost 150 suspects now being hunted by global law enforcement.
Police say the allegations are “the most extreme we’ve seen”, and the content so “depraved” and “horrific” that magistrates and prosecutors are in shock.
Detectives from the NSW Police’s child exploitation internet unit alleged late last year that they had uncovered a paedophile network involved in the “online distribution of child sexual abuse material involving ritualistic or satanic themes”.
Strike Force Constantine, named after the first Christian emperor of Rome, has rounded up six men across Sydney who allegedly made the horrific child abuse content that has shocked seasoned investigators and judicial officers.
“This operation exposed a network fixated on material that combined extreme child abuse with ritualistic or satanic themes,” Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty told this masthead.
“The material is among the most extreme we have seen, and the group’s use of satanic iconography demonstrates the level of depravity driving their offending.”
Doherty said the demonic description of the ring could sound sensational, but the alleged paedophiles were actually sharing “satanic” imagery, symbols, and language alongside the images and videos.
NSW Police mapped the network’s international footprint, Doherty said, and it was “leading directly” to further arrests overseas.
“The evidence we have gathered has already identified 145 alleged offenders overseas, and we are now working closely with international law enforcement agencies to ensure they face justice,” she said.
The headlines began in late November when detectives from Constantine executed search warrants in Waterloo, Ultimo and Malabar.
The ring’s alleged leader, Landon Ashton Versace Germanotta-Mills, was led from a Waterloo apartment block wearing a hypnotic black and white outfit.
The 26-year-old described himself in online screeds as an “investigative and forensic journalist” who railed against child abusers and other criminals.
“I founded Underground Media Network to do what mainstream journalism won’t: expose police corruption, institutional abuse, systemic racism, and state-sanctioned silence,” he wrote on LinkedIn.
“I follow stories no one wants to print – stories about Aboriginal deaths in custody, survivors failed by foster care, officers who abuse with impunity, and whistleblowers punished for telling the truth.”
Germanotta-Mills was hit with multiple child abuse and bestiality material charges and has remained in custody since his first court hearing on November 28.
Three more men were arrested, Benjamin Raymond Drysdale, Mark Andrew Sendecky and Stuart Woods Riches, at a unit block in Malabar.
Sendecky, 42, worked as a swim coach in Victoria until 2021.
The three were all charged with similar child abuse material charges, among other offences, and refused bail along with Germanotta-Mills.
Constantine’s detectives sifted through the horrors of the content allegedly shared by the men throughout December and January, discovering victims in their infancy up to age 12.
In late January, detectives swooped on another alleged member in Sydney Olympic Park, David Turner – a former police officer – slapping him with child abuse and bestiality material charges.
Turner, 42, was filmed being walked from his home and loaded into a police wagon in shorts and sandals. He was fired from his government job at NSW Telco Authority.
More electronics were seized, along with methamphetamine and ketamine.
Then on Wednesday, Constantine’s officers made their sixth arrest – eastern suburbs’ property manager Colin Milne.
The 62-year-old asked for release to bail, meaning the allegations against him and the satanic network were partially aired in court through documents.
Crown prosecutors told the court Milne’s devices showed he had used encrypted networks and apps to conceal his tracks online, and they feared he would warn the other members of the syndicate that police were circling.
Magistrate Alison Viney said the material was “disturbing”, as prosecutors called it a “depraved” depictions of very young children with adults.
“The facts would imply at least 50 individual child abuse images, at least 10 individual child abuse videos, and at least 100 images disseminated via the alleged syndicate,” the prosecutor said.
“Investigators have also found a large volume of material in relation to physical and sexual abuse of animals.”
Milne, a joint UK-Australian citizen with no criminal history, had just arrived back in Sydney after being overseas.
He offered to hand over his passports to secure bail, and wanted to live at a Darlinghurst transient accommodation which he manages.
Viney was not convinced, saying the case was “incredibly serious”.
“Having read the statement of facts, which detail unfortunately in some significant way the content of the videos, I can say that they are concerning and horrific,” Viney said.
“In somewhat 20 years of sitting as a judicial officer [I] haven’t read many worse than this, frankly.”
Viney said it was likely that Milne would be imprisoned if found guilty.
“The depravity of the material – I have real concerns in terms of the most vulnerable in our community, for their safety. I’m not satisfied that any condition would address those concerns.”
Milne warned the court he had been told he would be bashed in prison. He was refused bail until April.
Milne is believed to be the final NSW-based offender identified with links to the international paedophile network, police said in a statement.
The hunt is now on across Australia, USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, New Zealand, South America and South-East Asia to capture the remaining suspects.
Anyone needing support can contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028, Lifeline 13 11 14, and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
