Brayden Whitehorn: Ex-Pine Rivers Special School teacher’s child porn shame

A Moreton Bay teacher has been sentenced to probation after a search warrant uncovered child exploitation material.

A Moreton Bay special school teacher has been sentenced to probation for possessing a small quantity of foul child exploitation material (CEM).

Bray Park man Brayden Alexander Whitehorn, 26, a teacher at Pine Rivers Special School until his registration was suspended in January this year, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Tuesday to a single count of possessing CEM.

The court heard the offending was discovered following a search warrant executed at Whitehorn’s former North Lakes residence on January 14 this year.

On an internal computer hard-drive located in a box under his staircase, police discovered three files which represented CEM.

The court heard they consisted of three images.

Bray Park teacher Brayden Whitehorn, 26. Picture: Facebook

The first was a picture of an adult engaging in bestiality while two children looked on in the background.

The second and third were screen captures of an internet forum focussed on incest fantasies.

The images depicted “detailed” stories of teenage males describing “repeatedly” raping young girls they were related to.

Whitehorn was charged on January 18, with his teacher’s registration cancelled from January 20.

It was accepted by Crown prosecutor Julie Aylward the offending was at the “lowest” end for offences of this type.

Whitehorn had no criminal history prior to today.

Judge Leanne Clare SC told Whitehorn, “On the evidence before me, you’ve been a productive and responsible member of the community”.

However, she noted the offending had had grievous consequences already.

“You lost your job, your wife left you although she remains supportive,” Judge Clare said.

She said his risk of reoffending was “minimal” and he had undertaken a course in counselling.

Whitehorn was sentenced to 18 months’ probation.

No conviction was recorded.