Alleged public toilet predator Wayne Leslie Hartas, Fortitude Valley, granted Brisbane Court bail

An alleged predator who is accused of taking photos of children as young as six in Brisbane public toilets and sharing them online has been granted bail.

An alleged predator who is accused of taking photos of children as young as six in Brisbane public toilets and sharing them online will be released back into the community. Picture: Generic

A man accused of taking photos of young children at public toilets in Brisbane has been granted bail today.

Fortitude Valley resident Wayne Leslie Hartas, 47, made his second bid for bail in Brisbane Magistrate’s Court today, March 11.

At his previous application in September 2023, the court heard police would allege Hartas had taken photos or videos of children aged 6 to 15 at Brisbane public toilets.

It was further alleged Hartas had distributed the material, and that he was an admin of a Facebook page and a page on encrypted messaging platform Telegram where child exploitation material (CEM) was being distributed.

The court heard Hartas was further alleged to have spoken to a 15-year-old female online and that he expressed a desire to meet her after exchanging images of penises and discussing engaging in a threesome.

Magistrate Zachary Sarra also noted at that previous bail application that Hartas had admitted to police he had a sexual interest in children ranging from 14 to 16 years old.

Mr Sarra said police alleged Hartas had stated in online messages that he “liked children as young as four years of age” and also “stated in conversation with other sexual predators that he has engaged in sexual activities with a nine year old”.

Hartas’s bail was denied at that time, and he was remanded in custody.

At his second application, just over six months later, the court heard he was now in danger of spending too much time in custody.

Crown prosecutor Miranda Hickey told the court the maximum penalty for Hartas’s alleged offences was 20 years in jail, but she estimated he would likely receive around two to two-and-a-half years if convicted.

She acknowledged he was nearing one third of that penalty in presentence custody, but voiced concerns that a grant of bail might be “setting (Hartas) up to fail” as he had no fixed address,

Legal aid defence lawyer Nick Douglas said his client intended to stay at a hotel near the Fortitude Valley police station, and would report there every day if required.

Mr Douglas said there could be “many other conditions” that would ameliorate any risk his client posed, including limiting his usage of his phone and the internet.

He said his client would consent to a blanket social media ban, and conditions not to go within 100 metres of any school.

Mr Douglas noted Hartas had no criminal history, and would likely plead guilty to the allegations at some stage following further discussions about the specific charges.

Hartas is currently charged with five counts of making CEM, four counts of distributing CEM, three counts each of distributing CEM using a hidden network/anonymising service and possessing or controlling CEM (obtained or accessed using a carriage service), two counts of using a carriage service to access CEM, and one count each of administering CEM website (hidden network/anonymising service), possessing CEM, possessing CEM (hidden network/anonymising service), using the internet to procure children under 16, and buying or possessing s4 or s4 medicines or hazardous poisons.

He was granted bail under conditions to be agreed upon by the parties, and the matter was adjourned for mention on April 29.