SA corrections officer Stewart Iain Berry identified as man charged with child exploitation offending
The identity of a senior corrections officer accused of child exploitation crimes linked to HIV-positive paedophile Jadd Brooker, can now be revealed.
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A senior correctional services officer allegedly involved in the exploitation of children – and linked, by prosecutors, to an HIV-positive paedophile – can now be unmasked.
The Advertiser can now report the identity of Stewart Iain Berry, 37, of Salisbury Park, following his decision to abandon a Supreme Court suppression order challenge.
Berry’s identity has been shrouded since his arrest last week thanks to a failed bid for a suppression order, and then a mooted appeal against that loss to the state’s highest court.
Counsel for Berry were due to appear in that court on Tuesday and appeal against a magistrate’s refusal to block publication of their client’s identity.
Late on Monday, however, a Supreme Court spokesperson said neither the hearing nor the appeal would go ahead.
“A notice of discontinuance has been filed for the matter … as such, tomorrow’s hearing has been vacated,” they said.
Berry has yet to plead to two counts of producing child exploitation material, one count of indecent filming and one count of aggravated possession of child exploitation material.
He is further charged with one count of disseminating child exploitation material.
Court documents allege Berry’s offending occurred at Port Lincoln, Salisbury Park and the Eyre Peninsula in 2020 and 2021.
It is alleged that, between June 2020 and January 2021, he both produced and disseminated exploitation material featuring children under the age of 14 years.
It is further alleged that, between June 2020 and March 2021, Berry indecently filmed an adult without their consent.
He allegedly produced further exploitation material between November 2020 and January 2021, and was caught in possession of such material on March 30 this year.
Berry was arrested two weeks ago alongside former Labor staffer Ben Waters – who was, at the time, senior political adviser to Labor MP Nat Cook.
Their arrests were prompted by investigations into HIV-positive paedophile Jadd William Brooker, who is about to be charged with 100 further offences.
Upon learning alleged sex offenders no longer receive automatic anonymity, Berry instructed his counsel to seek a suppression order in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.
They argued publishing their client’s identity would expose him to “undue hardship” and place the ongoing police investigation at risk.
The Advertiser argued “undue hardship” applies only to victims, witnesses and children, not alleged offenders, meaning Berry was undeserving of a suppression.
Prosecutors agreed, telling the court that publication of Berry’s name would assist investigations and allow officers to identify “hundreds” of alleged victims.
The court refused the application – Berry’s counsel then filed a Supreme Court appeal, which legally postponed the revelation of his identity until that challenge had been heard.
With the appeal discontinued, Berry – who has been remanded in custody – will next face court in November.
Originally published as SA corrections officer Stewart Iain Berry identified as man charged with child exploitation offending
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