Former childcare worker accused of ‘unfathomable’ abuse of 91 children across Qld, NSW fronts court for first time

The former childcare worker charged with what federal police have alleged is the “unfathomable” abuse of young children across Australia has officially been charged with more than 15000 offences.

A man facing thousands of additional child abuse offences – including 136 counts of raping pre-pubescent girls – is expected to not have his “voluminous” case progress through the courts until next year, a court has been told.

Brisbane Magistrates Court’s public gallery was packed on Monday morning as media awaited the 45-year-old’s mention on the plethora of charges, laid by federal police earlier this month.

The Gold Coast man has been in custody since August last year on separate alleged child abuse offences.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) will allege the new 1623 charges relate to offences committed against 91 children in Brisbane, Sydney and overseas between 2007 and 2022.

Police charged the man with more than 1600 child abuse offences, including 136 counts of raping pre-pubescent girls, earlier this month. Picture: iStock

On Monday, the man was not required to appear when his matter was mentioned for 356 of the offences, including 140 charges of indecent treatment of children under 12.

His identity remains protected due to laws in Queensland preventing the identification of people charged with rape or serious sexual offences.

The Director of Public Prosecutions prosecutor told the court he’s had “preliminary discussion” with the man’s solicitor, Madeline Wood about the “voluminous” amount of charges against him.

“We’ve had some discussion where we can expedite the matter to proceed through to committal,” he said.

The prosecutor said the investigation against the man was still chasing evidence from witnesses overseas.

“The brief has largely been provided, there are some small bits of evidence relating to overseas witnesses which the DPP are waiting on and the federal police are waiting for as well but I don’t anticipate that us delaying the matter,” he said.

Ms Wood said her legal team had not been through the brief of evidence and agreed to a lengthy adjournment.

Acting magistrate Anthony Gett said he wanted to hear from the DPP in November for an update on how the case is progressing, after the prosecutor had requested an adjournment to January.

“I still want to bring it back to see how its travelling, I don’t want to adjourn it for a such a long period that’s over five months away,” Mr Gett said.

The matter will be mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 6.

The man remains in bail and has not made an application for bail.

Police allege further self-produced child abuse material was uncovered on electronic devices owned by the man when he was arrested and charged last year.

The AFP launched Operation Tenterfield in response, identifying children in the alleged abuse material recorded at 11 Australian childcare centres and an early learning centre attached to a school overseas.

It is alleged the man recorded his offending on phones and cameras while working in 10 childcare centres in Brisbane between 2007 to 2013, and 2018 to 2022, along with a Sydney centre between 2014 and 2017.

Other filmed offences are alleged to have taken place at the overseas location in 2013 and 2014.

All the children allegedly offended against were pre-pubescent girls.

Federal Police said the alleged offences were “unfathomable” after thousands of alleged images and videos were found in the man’s possession following his arrest in August last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said the alleged offences were “unfathomable” and “chilling news”.

“We are highly confident that all 87 Australian children who were recorded in the alleged child abuse material have been identified,” she said.

“The parents of all the Australian children recorded in the alleged child abuse material have been informed of the investigation. Some of the individuals identified in the alleged child abuse material are now aged over 18 years and have been informed.”

Last year, the AFP was able to trace objects identified in the background of some of the alleged images and videos posted on the dark web between 2013 and 2014.

It led police to a Brisbane childcare centre while the man’s home was also raided.

Nearly 4000 images and videos allegedly created by the man were reviewed by officers from a joint-agency task force between the AFP, Queensland Police and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).

In June, NSW Police charged the man for alleged offending against 23 NSW children, including:

• 68 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10 contrary to section 66A (1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment;
• 42 counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child under 10 under authority contrary to section 66A (2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment;
• 69 counts of aggravated indecent assault contrary to section 61M (2) of Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment; and
• One count of producing child abuse material contrary to section 91H (2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

In July, the man was charged by the AFP with alleged offending against 64 children in Queensland and four children overseas, including:

• 136 counts of rape contrary to section 349 of the Criminal Code 1899 (QLD), which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment;
• 604 counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 contrary to section 210 of the Criminal Code 1899 (QLD), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment;
• 613 counts of making child exploitation material, contrary to section 228B of the Criminal Code 1899 (QLD), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment;
• 83 counts of possessing, controlling, producing, distributing or obtaining child pornography material outside Australia, contrary to section 273.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment;
• One count of possessing, controlling, distributing or obtaining child pornography material contrary to section 474.19 of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment; and six counts of possessing child exploitation material, contrary to section 228D of the Criminal Code (QLD), which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse or family violence contact:

• National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service 24-hour helpline 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732
• 24-hour Emergency Accommodation helpline on 1800 800 588
• Safe At Home helpline on 1800 633 937
• National Violence and Abuse Trauma Counselling and Recovery Service on 1800 FULLSTOP (1800 385 578). They also have a specific line for the LGBTIQA+ community called the Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline on 1800 497 212
• SHE (free and confidential counselling and support) on 6278 9090
• Sexual Assault Support Services on 6231 1811, or after hours 6231 1817
• Family Violence Crisis and Support Service on 1800 608 122
• Bravehearts – Sexual Assault Support for Children on 1800 BRAVE 1
• Kids Helpline is for young people aged 5 to 25 on 1800 551 800

Originally published as Former childcare worker accused of ‘unfathomable’ abuse of 91 children across Qld, NSW fronts court for first time