Stewart Iain Berry and Mathew Campbell face court on child abuse charges over alleged role in SA online pedophile syndicate

A senior public servant and alleged pedophile syndicate member has faced court – but one of his co-accused says he won’t share the dock with him.

A senior Correctional Services officer has faced court accused of membership in an online pedophile syndicate – but one of his co-accused has refused to share the dock with him.

On Monday, Stewart Iain Berry made his first appearance in the Adelaide Magistrates Court since being released on home detention bail in May last year.

Prosecutors told the court their case against Mr Berry had been merged with that of another alleged syndicate member, Mathew Campbell, and that the duo were now jointly charged.

However, when Magistrate John Wells ordered both men into the dock, Jessie MacGillivray, for Mr Campbell, made a request.

“My client’s preference is that they do not be in the dock together if it’s at all possible,” she said.

Stewart Iain Berry outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe.

Mr Berry, 37, of Salisbury Park, has yet to plead to two counts of producing child exploitation material and one count of indecent filming.

He is further charged with one count of aggravated possession of child exploitation material and one count of disseminating child exploitation material.

Mr Campbell, 38, of Salisbury Park, has yet to plead to two aggravated counts and seven basic counts of producing child exploitation material.

Their arrests, and that of former ALP adviser Benjamin John Waters, arose from investigations into Australia’s worst-ever child sex offender, Jadd William Brooker.

Previously, prosecutors alleged communications between Waters – who has pleaded guilty – and Mr Berry were “sexually explicit” and related to the exploitation of children.

They further alleged that, at one of Mr Berry’s two addresses, police found covert video cameras and films of adults, children and babies in various states of undress.

Allegations against Mr Campbell, who was arrested just days after Mr Berry was granted bail, have yet to be aired in court.

Mathew Campbell declined to share the dock with his co-accused. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe.

On Monday, Ms MacGillivray said her client was not yet prepared to enter pleas to the charges.

“We say there is no case to answer in respect of all the charges, and we will be asking that this matter be set down for submissions,” she said.

Counsel for Mr Berry – who was brought into both the courtroom and dock after Mr Campbell had left – asked his case be adjourned.

They said the merging of the cases had led to prosecutors providing more evidentiary material which they needed to consider.

Mr Wells remanded both men on continuing bail until next week, when a date for no case submissions will be set.