‘We need time to heal’: Brett Finch’s wife speaks out

A week after Finch was sentenced to two years in jail for sharing “depraved” child abuse fantasies online, Elli Johnston revealed she was standing by her husband of four years.

The loyal wife of disgraced NRL star Brett Finch says the couple needs time to “heal” after his shocking child abuse material court case.

A week after Finch was sentenced to two years in jail for sharing “depraved” child abuse fantasies online, Elli Johnston revealed she is standing by her husband of four years.

But she told The Daily Telegraph the couple and their daughter Mackenzie, 3, were taking much-needed “time out” from the world after the worst 12 months of their lives.

Finch was arrested in December last year and charged with using a carriage service to publish or promote child abuse after police intercepted his “twisted” conversations in an online chat room called FastMeet.

Brett Finch's wife Elli Johnston told The Daily Telegraph she and Finch needed ‘time to heal’ after a traumatic 12-months. Picture: Instagram

“It’s been an extremely traumatic situation for myself, Mackenzie & Brett. And now (we) need time to heal individually and as a family,” Elli said.

Judge Phillip Mahony described Finch’s behaviour as “highly depraved” but accepted it was driven out of a desire to feed his chronic cocaine addiction, rather than an interest in children.

He allowed Finch to serve his sentence in the community if he undertakes psychiatric treatment.

A day after her husband’s sentencing, Elli posted a photo of herself and the couple’s daughter on social media with the caption: “Mini, you’re the most resilient little girl”.

A relative of Finch posted: “You two girls have the strength way above and beyond resilience, so bloody proud of you...the force will always be with you because you’re both the force.”

“Just like her mumma,” another follower commented.

Elli, the daughter of Carlton great Wayne Johnston, was there for Finch when his life spiralled into drug addiction after retiring from football.

Brett Finch and Elli Johnston wedding at Greenfields, Albert Park, Melbourne. Picture: Josie Hayden

The NSW District Court heard that at the time of Finch’s online chat offending, he was using up to 25 grams of cocaine per week.

He claimed he was using the chat room to source drugs and he thought that by sending “twisted” messages he was more likely to be put in contact with people on drugs who could then supply him.

Finch now barely leaves his home in Sydney’s south, lives off Centrelink payments and has unsuccessfully applied for over 300 jobs, the court heard.

He played in two grand final losses for the Sydney Roosters in 2003 and 2004 before winning a grand final with a star-studded Melbourne team in 2009, though that title was struck from the record books as a result of the Storm’s salary cap cheating.

Finch during his playing day with Melbourne Storm. Picture: Getty

He played 270 NRL games across stints at Canberra, the Roosters, Parramatta and Melbourne, as well as playing 60 games in the English Super League.

Finch took up a career as a commentator with Fox Sports, 2GB and Channel 9 in retirement but departed all of them amid his personal problems.

Another man who shared sickening child sex fantasies in the same group as Finch avoided jail on Thursday in what was an aotherwise unrelated case.

David Paul Edgecock, 44, pleaded guilty in Coffs Harbour District Court to using a carriage service to access child abuse material, and using a carriage service to distribute child abuse material.

Court facts revealed Edgecock sent voice messages to a man, not knowing of his status as a convicted child sex offender, discussing sexual fantasies involving babies and underage girls.

Judge Jonathan Priestley described the case as “irredeemably grotesque”.

Edgecock was sentenced to an 18 month intensive corrections order and must undertake sex offender rehabilitation.