Suppression order lifted on child abuse content producer in Victoria

Kindergarten cleaner produces 3,500 child abuse images at Mildura home Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 3:06pm In short: Christopher Rankin, 36, covertly filmed five children and six adults at a north-west Victorian home in 2025. He later used artificial intelligence (AI) in the development of explicit content. What's next? A suppression order preventing the publication of his name has been lifted by a Mildura magistrate. A suppression order protecting the identity of a man who has pleaded guilty to possessing and producing child abuse material has been lifted. The ABC can reveal Christopher Rankin, 36, of Mildura, pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to 17 charges including possessing and producing child abuse material. A court order preventing the media from naming, using pictures of, or detailing the case against the former kindergarten cleaner was in place since November. Rankin had served 35 days in pre-sentence detention and was out on bail prior to being arraigned at his first County Court appearance on June 25. Covert camera installation The County Court heard Rankin was 35 at the time he installed a covert camera in the bathroom of a home that was not his, in Victoria's north west. The court was told he was targeting a child known to him. More victims were filmed over time as other people, including the child's friends, visited the house. Rankin ultimately filmed five child victims and six adult victims. The court heard more than 3,500 child abuse images were located across a series of tablets and computers Rankin owned. The content included unaltered videos of the victims, as well as the heads of the victims superimposed onto the naked bodies of other adults and children. The court heard the entirety of the files located were either produced directly by Rankin, or with AI assistance. The court heard he was technologically savvy and used a series of remote monitoring applications and encryption software during his offending. An SD card found in the covert camera included video of him installing the device. Victims shattered to the core Four victim impact statements were read to the court on June 25, detailing feelings of guilt, blame and broken trust. One woman said she wished Rankin got the maximum penalty for his crimes, saying she no longer trusted anyone with her children apart from immediate family. Another said the ordeal left her feeling "overwhelmed, stressed and extremely anxious". A third victim said the offending had shattered her to her core, and that she "couldn't comprehend how someone could be so depraved". The fourth victim, the owner of the home where the offending transpired, said parents had stopped sending children to her place, and described Rankin's offending as "terrifying". County Court Judge Krista Breckweg said the material produced by Rankin was "disgusting, absolutely abhorrent and deplorable". The court heard an immediate term of imprisonment was inevitable for Rankin upon sentencing. The matter will return to the County Court on July 20 for a further plea.