Richard Spry, Grant Harden: Twist in alleged child sex abuse case

A man accused of having a stash of child abuse material was not sexually interested in the material but instead was in love with an alleged child abuser, a court heard.

A Sydney man who was arrested as part of a global investigation into online child sex abuse networks has denied having a sexual interest in children after it was revealed in court he had an “unrequited love” for an alleged child abuser.

Fresh details have emerged in the case of Richard Spry, who was allegedly found with almost 800 videos and images depicting child abuse material during a raid on his Glenwood home by the Australian Federal Police last May.

Grant Harden of St Marys, left, and Richard Martin Spry of Glenwood, have been charged as part of a federal police investigation into child abuse material. Picture: Supplied

The 49-year-old man is fighting one charge of possessing child abuse material after detectives allegedly found hundreds of files stored in folders on a computer in his garage.

Spry was one 14 men arrested across Australia as part of the AFP’s Operation Arkstone, which also saw St Marys man and volunteer soccer coach Grant Harden, 31, charged with almost 200 offences, including producing child abuse material and bestiality.

The airconditioning worker faced Penrith Local Court on Monday for the first day of a hearing, with his defence arguing there was an “innocent excuse” for the child abuse material found at his home.

Glenwood man Richard Spry leaves Penrith Local Court. He is charged over the possession of child abuse material. Picture: Kate Lockley

The court heard Harden and Spry had met on an online chat forum for gay men before they developed a “relationship” over their alleged shared sexual interest in young boys.

Referencing a statement tendered to the court from Harden, Magistrate Gibson said it was alleged that Harden sent Spry child abuse material over Snapchat and Kik.

The court heard that Harden further suggested there was a reciprocal arrangement between the pair, with Spry allegedly sending him child abuse material he had sourced online.

While Spry’s defence did not dispute the material constituted child abuse, they argued the images had been unknowingly downloaded through the app to his computer.

In a revelation to the court, the defence argued Spry had an “unrequited love” for Harden and was not sexually interested in the child depicted in the material he had received.

Grant Harden has been refused bail after being charged with producing child abuse material. Picture: Facebook

Junior soccer coach Grant Harden faces almost 200 charges. Pictured during his arrest last year. Picture: AFP

However, police allege a second folder containing 36GB worth of child abuse material was also found on Spry’s computer.

Spry’s defence argued that he was unaware of the alleged material and claimed that it had been sent to him in a link from a man on a gay chat forum.

The defence said Spry had been sent the material in 2017 over a short time frame and was not aware it was still on the computer, which was last used as far back as January 2018, more than two and a half years before the police raid.

The court heard concerns about Harden’s alleged embellishing of his statement and argued inconsistencies between the alleged child abuse material described in his statement and that allegedly found on Spry’s computer.

Magistrate Gibson dismissed the defence’s application to have Harden’s statement dismissed in the case, and found that it was of value to the hearing and would be considered as evidence.

Spry faces a maximum of 10 years in jail if found guilty. The case will return to court in November.

Harden also remains before the courts.