Paedophile tradie Bryan Grange appeals jail sentence after assaulting infant children

A vile Sydney tradie who sexually assaulted multiple children – one only a newborn – has failed in a bid to cut down his lengthy jail sentence.

Brian Michael Grange, 39, of Marayong, was jailed in 2021 after pleading guilty to a string of child sex offences. Picture: Facebook

A “callous” paedophile who filmed himself raping a newborn baby and sexually assaulted two preschool-aged children in the vicinity of oblivious family members has failed to cut down his 30-year jail sentence.

Brian Michael Grange, 39, of Marayong, was jailed in 2021 after pleading guilty to a string of child sex offences, including the purchase of more than 31,500 child abuse images and 27 hours worth of video.

Grange was arrested in October 2019 following a tip-off to Australian Federal Police, who raided his suburban home and uncovered scores of vile material stored on laptops, data storage devices, and DVDS.

Further investigation of the material uncovered that Grange had indecently assaulted an infant girl and used her to produce child sex abuse material. Grange later admitted to assaulting another two infant girls.

During his sentencing, the court was told one of Grange’s victims was an eight-week-old baby who he opportunistically abused while the infant’s mother and Grange’s wife smoked a cigarette outside.

Brian Michael Grange, 39, of Marayong, was jailed in 2021 after pleading guilty to a string of child sex offences. Picture: Facebook

Another victim was only a couple of years old when she was abused by Grange as he accompanied her in a public toilet.

A third girl was repeatedly molested by Grange over a number of years between infancy and age five.

Grange made videos depicting himself molesting the girls, in one case inciting a girl to expose herself while stating: “You are getting good at it.”

In July 2021, Judge Kara Shead sentenced Grange to 30 years in prison for the state offences, with a non-parole period of 20 years. For the Commonwealth offences, Grange was sentenced to four years and six months prison

Supreme Court JusticeDesmond Fagan, when giving judgment in the Criminal Court of Appeal on Friday, the sentence was “manifestly excessive”, but was overruled by the other two Justices who dismissed the appeal.

Justice Fagan had said that Grange should be resentenced to a term of 20 years, agreeing with suggestions the harm to victims was a matter of debate.

Grange was arrested in October 2019 following a tip-off to Australian Federal Police. Picture: Facebook

“There is no basis in the evidence for inferring that the [newborn] was aware of the indecent nature of Grange’s conduct or that she distinguished what he did from everyday physical care by an adult,” he said.

Justice Fagan said the other two victims were also unaware they were being filmed.

Nonetheless, Justice Fagan was overruled by Justices Geoffrey Bellew and Robert Beech-Jones, who ruled by majority that the punishment, while “stern”, was still within range for such offending.

“Given the tender age of the victim, the nature of the acts and the fact that understandings of the effect of sexual assault upon children of different ages have evolved and will continue to evolve over time, Judge Shead was correct to reject the submission [the newborn] had not suffered,” Justice Beech-Jones said.

Grange had come under notice by US Homeland Security after investigators tracked down the payment details of some of subscribers to a child abuse material site, where he spent $7156 on child abuse material.

Psychologist reports tendered to the court revealed Grange had been diagnosed with paedophilia.

He will be eligible for parole from 2041.