Oxenford State School principal Patric Brady charged with possessing child exploitation material, grooming offences
A Gold Coast primary school principal accused of possessing child abuse material and grooming children overseas now cannot use the internet for any reason as a condition of his bail. READ THE LATEST
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The principal of a Gold Coast primary school has been accused by police of possessing child exploitation material and using encrypted messaging apps to groom children in the Philippines for sexual activity.
Oxenford State School principal Patric Brady was arrested on Tuesday at an address in Pimpama following the execution of a search warrant by Taskforce Argos detectives.
The warrant stemmed from a joint investigation between the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and the Australian Federal Police-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
Brady has since been charged with one count of possessing child exploitation material (CEM), three counts of soliciting child abuse material by using a carriage service, one count of grooming a person to make it easier to engage in sexual activity with a child outside of Australia, and one count of grooming a child to engage in sexual activity outside of Australia.
The grooming charges date back to between July 14 and September 2 last year, with police alleging Brady sourced child abuse material several times between April 15 and September 2, 2023.
The 54-year-old appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he was granted bail, with his case adjourned until September 12.
He is banned from using the internet and using or possessing any device able to connect to the internet as conditions of his bail.
Brady has been principal of Oxenford State School since October 2018. He was previously principal of Tara Shire State College.
In a statement police said the man charged was an employee of the Department of Education at a school on the Gold Coast. Officers said it was not alleged that his offending was related to his employment and that there were no indications at this time that children at the school had been victimised.
A Department of Education spokesperson said support was being offered to the school community affected.
Detective Inspector Glen Donaldson from Taskforce Argos said the case showed officers were leaving “no stone unturned” in their efforts to identify offenders.
“The issue of Live Online Child Sexual Abuse of vulnerable children across the world is a significant concern and remains a targeting priority of law enforcement across Australia,” he said.
“This arrest highlights the Queensland Police commitment to protecting vulnerable children and bringing perpetrators of these disturbing crimes to justice.
“Law enforcement continue to share intelligence on a daily basis, working together to identify those who seek to hide on platforms they believe make them anonymous.
“Everything you do online leaves a trace, and our detectives will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to identify and prosecute offenders”.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Hayden Wells said the investigation that led to the charges was a great example of law enforcement agencies working together.
“This arrest is a testament to the joint effort of the ACCCE Operations Development and Disruption Unit, Intelligence Fusion Cell, and the QPS, who all work tirelessly to identify, pursue and prosecute those involved in child exploitation”.
A Department of Education spokesperson said counselling was being made available for anyone who required it.
“The department is aware that a Department of Education employee was arrested. The department is supporting the police investigation and is providing ongoing support to the
affected school community,” the spokesperson said.
“Counselling and guidance services are available for anyone requiring support.
“No further details about the school can be provided at this time.
“The department is unable to comment further on matters before the courts.”
Investigations by Taskforce Argos detectives into the full extent of Brady’s alleged offending are continuing.
Originally published as Oxenford State School principal Patric Brady charged with possessing child exploitation material, grooming offences
SEQ school bans student promposals, threatens suspension
An elite secondary school has banned students from ‘promposing’ to their dates for formal, with one student threatened with suspension.
Read more
Man charged with horror hammer attack on motorsport identity
A man has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged attack on racing car driver Chris Pappas at his Gold Coast home, leaving him in a serious condition.
Read more