Brad McLeod, 33, of Newport: Charged with sharing child sexual abuse material

Sex Crimes Squad detectives raided a northern beaches’ home, after a tip-off from interstate, and charged a man with a string of offences related to child sexual abuse material.

Brad McLeod, 33, of Newport, at Manly Police Station on Wednesday where he was chared with allegedly possessing and sharing child abuse material under Strike Force Trawler. Picture: NSW Police

A man who allegedly had numerous child sexual abuse images and videos has been arrested at his Sydney address.

NSW Police’s Sex Crimes Squad detectives, who also allege he shared the vile material with others, raided the Newport home of Brad McLeod, 33, on Wednesday morning.

Officers from Strike Force Trawler, an ongoing investigation by the squad’s Child Exploitation internet Unit, into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children through the internet and related telecommunications devices, have charged Mr McLeod with 10 offences.

Mr McLeod was already on the Child Protection Offenders Register for previous convictions, according to court documents.

Sex Crimes Squad detectives arrest Brad McLeod, 33, at his Newport home on Wednesday morning. Picture: NSW Police

Officers went to the house in Myola Rd at 6am, armed with a search warrant, after a tip-off from authorities interstate.

It will be alleged in court that during a search of Mr McLeod’s home, officers found and seized electronic devices.

He was taken to Manly Police Station at about 9am, where he was charged with two counts of use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse, possess/control child abuse material – use carriage service and seven counts of fail to comply with reporting obligations.

The matters were mentioned at Manly Local Court on Wednesday afternoon.

Police alleged Brad McLeod, 33, of Newport possessed and shared child abuse matrial. Picture: NSW Police

In documents tendered in court police alleged that on the evening of May 20, at Newport, Mr McLeod made child abuse material available, using a carriage service, at 6.56pm and 7.26pm.

Police also alleged in the documents that he was in possession of child abuse material “in the form of data held in a computer or contained in a data storage device”.

Brad McLeod, 33, of Newport, will be back in Manly court on June 20 to make a release application. Picture: NSW Police

It will also be alleged that he failed to comply with reporting requirements under the Child Protection (Offenders Register) Act.

His alleged failure to comply included using user names such as GeSexy and bradomato on applications including Bumble, Scruff and Feeld.

Mr McLeod did no appear in court. He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

No pleas were entered.

Magistrate Robyn Dene adjourned all matters to Manly Local Court on June 20 where Mr McLeod will make a release application.

Investigations under Strike Force Trawler continue.