SA paedophile syndicate: Public servant Stewart Iain Berry allegedly paid for sex with teen object of husband’s obsession
Prosecutors have lifted the lid on the case against an alleged member of SA’s online paedophile syndicate – and a teenager who was targeted.
Police & Courts
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A senior public servant paid for sex with a teenager – with whom his husband had an “uncontrollable obsession” – and then filmed and posted it online, a court has heard.
On Tuesday, new details in the case against former Correctional Services officer and alleged paedophile syndicate member Stewart Iain Berry emerged in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.
Prosecutors urged the court to officially begin the committal process – reducing the time in which Mr Berry can earn a sentencing discount – saying their case was almost ready.
The alleged victim is the same teenager named in charges against Mr Berry’s husband and co-accused, Matthew Campbell.
The court has previously heard the couple argued in text messages over which of them the boy “belonged” to, and discussed Mr Campbell’s “obsession I can’t control” over the boy.
“This is a matter where, it’s alleged, the accused gave money to the complainant in exchange for sexual favours,” a prosecutor said.
“We are now seeking material such as bank statements, to chart the money the complainant received from the accused, as well as Snapchat videos. We say those videos depict some of the alleged offending.”
Mr Berry, 37, of Salisbury Park, has already pleaded not guilty to multiple charges relating to the possession, production and dissemination of child exploitation material.
Prosecutors have alleged he and Mr Campbell, 38, of Salisbury, installed hidden cameras in their home to film children, which Mr Campbell has denied.
In May, prosecutors accused Mr Berry of further offences including maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child between November 2017 and November 2020.
All charges arose from investigations into the online syndicate led by Australia’s worst-ever child sex offender, Jadd William Brooker.
On Tuesday, counsel for Mr Berry said they wanted “two or three weeks” to consider the charges before the committal process started.
The state’s chief magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, refused that request, saying counsel could “have the matter called on early” if their client wished to plead guilty.
She remanded Mr Berry on continuing bail to face court again in September.
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