Shaun Benjamin Bretske tears up while pleading guilty to making, distributing child abuse material

A Townsville man accused of making and sending child abuse material online was reduced to tears after facing a Judge.

A Townsville man accused of making and sending child abuse material online was reduced to tears after facing a Judge.

A solemn and teary Shaun Benjamin Bretske appeared via videolink from Maryborough into Townsville District Court on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to seven counts of distributing child exploitation material (CEM), one count of making CEM, one count of distributing CEM using an anonymising service, and three counts of possessing CEM – hidden network / anonymising service.

Bretske, who was wearing a surgical mask at the beginning of the video call, pulled down the mask as he pleaded guilty to all counts against him.

“Guilty, your Honour,” Bretske said as his voice cracked and broke.

Shaun Bretske pleaded guilty to multiple charges involving the possession and distribution of child exploitation material.

Shaun Bretske.

Throughout the call, Bretske sat stiffly with his shoulders rounded, with his hands clasped together.

His defence barrister, Ross Malcomson asked for the matter to be set down for a sentence in two months time.

He will appear before a visiting Judge in November.

Bretske was arrested and charged in October 2021 over the alleged offending.

Police allege that after searching Bretske’s home, multiple hard drives and devices were seized.

They further allege Bretske shared files through an online service that concealed his identity.

The arrest came after federal agencies alerted the Townsville Child Protection and Investigation Unit.

Originally published as Shaun Benjamin Bretske tears up while pleading guilty to making, distributing child abuse material