Calls growing for more regulation of online sales after man buys child sex doll

Calls to crack down on the online sale of child sex abuse dolls are growing after a Perth man who purchased them was jailed for his plot to kidnap a child. Jason William Forbes, 39, was last month sentenced to seven years and five months behind bars after police foiled his plan to abduct a girl by impersonating a police officer. His case was only revealed by authorities this week. Forbes pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a child sex doll, using a carriage service to plan sexual activity with a child, and possessing child exploitation material. Forbes came to the attention of authorities in 2024 after he ordered a child sex doll online, with ABF officers executing a search warrant at his home. Just days later, and calls are increasing for all major online retailers to crack down on the sale of child sex abuse dolls. Australian activist group Collective Shout said that purchasing and using a child sex abuse doll was not a victimless crime. “Child sex abuse dolls are replica little girls, sometimes even toddlers or infants, produced for men’s on-demand sexual use,” campaigns manager Caitlin Roper said. “They normalise and legitimise child sexual abuse – they allow men to practise on a replica child that looks and feels like an actual child.” Ms Roper went on to call out Amazon in particular, who she claims continue to sell the dolls, while other global marketplaces like Temu and Shein had banned them. “Amazon is complicit. They are facilitating predators’ access to illegal child sex abuse material, and profiting from it,” she said. “Did Amazon supply Forbes with his child sex abuse dolls – the doll he practised on prior to escalating to planning to kidnap and sexually abuse a child?” “How many other crimes against children has Amazon facilitated through advertising and distributing replica little girls to predators?” However, an Amazon spokesperson told NewsWire protecting children and adolescents is their priority, adding they require all products offered on their store to comply with applicable regulations. “Protecting children and adolescents is a priority for us and we require all products offered on our store to comply with applicable regulations,” they said. “We have strict policies and guidelines in the segment of adult products and we have always strictly prohibited child pornography. “This includes having express policies prohibiting the sale of sex dolls with child-like appearances, which all third-party sellers on our store must follow. “We are investing heavily in tools and teams to continuously monitor our store and enforce the respect of our guidelines and policies. “Third-party sellers who don’t will be subject to action including removal of their account.” Collective Shout says in November they called out Amazon for selling the dolls, and said more than 1000 Collective Shout supporters emailed Amazon executives calling for the removal of child sex abuse dolls. They say Amazon has remained silent. It is not currently known which online site Forbes purchased the doll from and it is not suggested that he purchased it from Amazon. Horror details It comes as more horror details of Forbes’ case were revealed during the week. The UK-born man, who was living in the Perth suburb of Baldivis, had scoped out schools and created a loft with sound-proofing materials after researching how to build a panic room. Detective Acting Superintendent Eamon Flanagan said “something terrible” could have happened if police had not made the arrest. “It was clear that there was serious and imminent risk if there had been any delay in this investigation,” he told reporters on Wednesday. Australian Border Force Inspector David Williamson said Forbes was initially resistant to let officers into the home. “Once we got into the premises, it was apparent why he didn’t want us in the premises,” he told reporters. “There was an electronic device displaying child abuse material on the kitchen bench. “There was the additional (child-like sex) doll in the bedroom. “We immediately realised that it was beyond the remit of the Australian Border Force ... and we contacted our partner agency at the (WA Police) child exploitation operations area, who quickly attended and took over the evidence gathering.” Digital devices believed to contain child exploitation material were seized, as well as nappies, children’s dolls, children’s underwear and a hard copy child exploitation image. During a search of his vehicle, officers also found a fake police badge. District Court Judge Darren Renton said in his sentencing remarks that Forbes had “carefully selected the features” of the doll, which was clearly childlike. Regarding the second count, Judge Renton said Google searches showed Forbes was planning to kidnap a child. He searched various locations relating to schools and kindergartens within the Perth metropolitan area, with their locations marked on various Google Maps searches. He also used his Tesla to take a video of children aged eight and 10 on the driveway of a home less than 2km from his house in April 2024. A still image was taken from that video and saved to a folder named “X marks the spot”. In a rear bedroom of his home, police found a ladder that had been fitted to the roof space. Forbes had purchased timber from Bunnings to build the loft. Judge Renton said the child exploitation material in Forbes’ possession was extremely depraved, involving infants and children aged up to 15. He said the level of premeditation was an aggravating factor.