Former SA Labor political adviser Ben Waters pleads guilty to child abuse crimes

He had a high-flying international career and a plum spot with the Opposition – now this ex-Labor staffer faces a 15-year sentence for child abuse crimes.

A former political adviser to a senior Labor MP has admitted downloading and transmitting child abuse material over an app infamously used by terrorist organisations.

Ben Waters now faces a maximum 15-year prison term for his crimes – including being in possession of videos of children under the age of 14 years.

Waters, 38, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, one month earlier than his next scheduled appearance.

He had been charged with one count of producing child abuse material through a carriage service and two counts of aggravated possession of child exploitation material.

He had been further accused of two counts of possession of child exploitation material.

On Monday, however, Commonwealth prosecutors said the nature of their case against Waters had changed, withdrew their original accusations and replaced them with three new counts.

Asked if the court should set a new date for the matter, Michael Dadds, for Waters, said that would not be necessary.

“He will be pleading guilty,” he said.

Ben Waters, centre, outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes.

Waters, formerly the senior political adviser to Labor MP Nat Cook, was arrested in April alongside senior correctional services officer Stewart Ian Berry.

He has worked across several Labor MPs’ offices as an adviser for the past decade, and as a campaigner in London for the UK Labour Party for 3 ½ years.

The duo’s arrests, and that of a third man, were prompted by investigations into HIV-positive paedophile Jadd William Brooker.

Waters was released on strict home detention bail following his arrest. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette.

In court documents lodged on Monday, prosecutors accused Waters of three offences.

They alleged that, between January 20 and 26 this year, at Adelaide and other places, he both accessed and transmitted child abuse material using the Telegram app.

Courts around the state have previously heard that app has been used by terrorist organisations including Islamic State, and by far-right extremists, for encrypted communication.

Waters was further charged with two counts of having possessed child exploitation material, at Adelaide and other places, in March this year.

The first count alleged possession of images and videos of children under the age of 14, the second of children aged between 14 and 17 years.

Waters, standing in the dock of the court with his hands clasped in front of him, pleaded guilty to all three offences.

Magistrate John Wells remanded him on continuing bail to face the District Court in September, when a date for sentencing submissions will be set.

Outside court, Ms Cook said she trusted Waters’ pleas would “enable justice to be served as quickly as possible”.

“My thoughts have been and will continue to be with victims and their families affected by these abhorrent acts,” she said.