An Australian man who carried out extensive planning to abduct and sexually abuse a child has been sentenced to seven years and five months in prison by a Perth court.

 

According to ABC News, Jason William Forbes, 39, came under investigation after the Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted prohibited child-like dolls he had imported in 2024. The interception triggered a joint operation between ABF and Western Australia Police, leading to a search of his Baldivis home, south of Perth.

 

Court documents revealed that Forbes had researched schools, kindergartens and childcare centres across the Perth metropolitan area and marked potential locations on maps, according to evidence presented during sentencing and reported by ABC News.

 

Police told the court that Forbes had also searched online for ways to approach and isolate a child and had explored how to build a concealed, soundproofed room in his attic. Investigators later found the attic had been modified with acoustic materials, a development the court found consistent with his broader planning.

 

During the home search, officers seized items including children’s clothing, dolls, nappies and a fake police badge. Authorities said Forbes intended to impersonate a police officer as part of his plan to gain a child’s trust.

 

The court also heard that Forbes had used his vehicle to record footage near residential areas and childcare facilities. His car had been modified with dark coverings, preventing visibility into the interior, according to police evidence cited by ABC News.

 

In addition, investigators discovered a large volume of illegal child abuse material on Forbes’ electronic devices. Judge Darren Renton described the material as highly disturbing and noted that its storage alongside surveillance-related content showed a significant level of planning.

 

Forbes’ defence argued that some of his research was for fictional writing and that the attic room had an innocent purpose. However, Judge Renton rejected these claims, stating that the timing and pattern of Forbes’ online searches demonstrated clear criminal intent.

 

Although Forbes had no prior criminal record, the judge said the level of preparation and his ongoing interest in children raised serious concerns about rehabilitation and community safety.

 

Forbes will be eligible to apply for parole in late 2029.