On the surface, Jason William Forbes seemed to embody the quintessential suburban lifestyle. Residing in a four-bedroom house on a quiet street in Baldivis, Perth, the 39-year-old electrician was described by neighbors as “a regular sort of bloke.” However, beneath this facade lay a chilling reality that would shock the community.
The revelation of Forbes’s sinister plan emerged this week when Western Australian Police arrested him, citing a “serious and imminent” risk to children. Forbes had been covertly transforming the roof space of his home into a soundproof cell, intended to imprison a young girl he planned to abduct for his own depraved purposes.
A Quiet Neighbor with a Dark Secret
For years, Forbes managed to hide in plain sight. His social media presence was innocuous, filled with posts about animals, Harry Potter, and interests like chess and astronomy. Neighbors noted that he kept to himself, leading a “hermit-like lifestyle,” as described by Detective Acting Superintendent Eamon Flanagan of the Sex Crime Division.
Yet, behind closed doors, Forbes was orchestrating a crime of unimaginable horror. Court documents unveiled that his sexual interest in young girls spanned two decades, and he had been in possession of a child sex doll for years. It was only when he ordered another custom-made doll online that police became aware of his activities, prompting a search of his home.
The Unveiling of a Disturbing Plot
When police arrived at Forbes’s residence at 4 a.m. on a winter morning in 2024, they were met with reluctance. Inside, they discovered a partially constructed soundproof attic room, alongside nappies, children’s underwear, and dolls. A computer in the kitchen displayed images of child abuse, and further investigation revealed nearly 80,000 images of child exploitation on his devices.
“Extremely depraved material,” was how Judge Darren Renton described the content found on Forbes’s devices.
In the master bedroom, police found a mirror scrawled with Forbes’s master plan to abduct a young girl, detailing steps like “stun gun + taser” and “parks + playgrounds.” The discovery painted a picture of a meticulously calculated scheme.
Close to Execution
Forbes was on the brink of executing his plan. His online search history included terms like “knockout chemicals and gases” and “volunteer childcare work near me.” He had even considered impersonating a police officer, with a fake badge found in his Tesla, which was modified with dark-tinted windows and video recording capabilities.
Data from the car showed that Forbes had been scouting local schools and childcare centers, searching for a potential victim. A video recording of two children playing near their home, located less than two kilometers from his residence, was found on his computer.
The Legal Repercussions
Forbes ultimately pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a childlike sex doll, possessing child exploitation material, and using a carriage service to prepare for sexual activity with a child under 16. His defense claimed the planning was for a novel he intended to write, a notion Judge Renton dismissed as “fanciful and lacking in substance.”
Judge Renton expressed skepticism about Forbes’s rehabilitation prospects, citing his entrenched interest in child sex and lack of remorse. Despite acknowledging Forbes’s likely depression and PTSD, the judge sentenced him to seven years and five months in prison, with parole eligibility in late 2029.
Community Relief and Reflection
Back in Baldivis, the community is relieved that police intervened before Forbes’s plans could come to fruition. Daytona Te Kowhai, a neighbor, expressed gratitude for the police’s timely action.
“I think a lot of us in the neighborhood are very, very grateful for what the police have done,” Te Kowhai said. “I’d hate to have seen what would happen, and just how close to home it is.”
This case serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that can lurk in seemingly ordinary neighborhoods and underscores the importance of vigilance and community awareness in preventing such heinous crimes.
