Brendon James Brooks, 46, granted NSW Supreme Court bail after being arrested over child-like sex dolls and abuse material

A man arrested outside a church allegedly in possession of child abuse material, child-like sex dolls, rope, knives and a mattress has been granted bail after a court heard he was being treated for a significant mental illness.

Brendon James Brooks was arrested outside the Immaculate Conception Church at Morpeth on May 3 last year. Picture: Google Maps.

A man dramatically arrested outside a country church allegedly in possession of child abuse material, child-like sex dolls, rope, knives and a mattress has been granted strict conditional bail after a court heard he was being treated for a significant mental illness.

The NSW Supreme Court heard on Monday that Brendon James Brooks, now aged 46, had no criminal history and nothing in his past to suggest a “predilection” for deviant sexual behaviour when he was tackled to the ground outside the Immaculate Conception Church at Morpeth, in the Lower Hunter, on May 3 last year after residents reported seeing a man dancing around a small statue adorned with diamontes and candles.

A court has previously heard that the then 45-year-old had allegedly told arriving police he was in possession of a knife before officers wrestled him to the ground with help from a member of the public.

A search of Brooks’ Toyota Corolla allegedly found the torsos of five childlike sex dolls inside suitcases, knives and rope, while the car’s back seat had also been removed and replaced with a mattress.

Police allege at least 30 child abuse images were found in a folder on a seized hard drive.

Brendon James Brooks was arrested by police on George St at Morpeth and later charged over possessing child abuse material and child-like sex dolls. Picture: Supplied.

Court documents have alleged there were also two notebooks containing names of people in the local area, some of them with young children.

Brooks has been charged with five counts of possessing a child-like sex doll or other object and one count each of possessing child abuse material, using a carriage service to access child abuse material, having custody of a knife in a public place, and hindering or resisting police.

Some of the items allegedly seized by police from Brendon Brooks’ car. Picture: Supplied.

He has not been required to enter any pleas.

The court heard on Monday that Brooks, who had been a well-respected and “loved” member of the community before his arrest, had suffered a “significant decline” in his mental health over several weeks prior to the incident outside the church.

NSW Supreme Court Justice Belinda Rigg said there was evidence in front of the court that Brooks was being treated for schizophreniform disorder and his mental health had improved dramatically since taking anti-psychotic medication.

Brooks’ release application was opposed by Commonwealth prosecutors.

Brendon James Brooks was tackled to the ground outside the Morpeth church after allegedly telling police he had a knife. Picture: Supplied.

Justice Rigg said a set of stringent bail conditions could “ameliorate” risks to the community if Brooks was to be released to continue his treatment in a “loving” and “stable” family environment compared to the “harsher” environment if he remained in custody on remand.

Those conditions include that he live under a form of home detention at his mother’s home in suburban Newcastle and only leave the home in the company of his parents or brother.

Brooks will also need to report daily to police, continue with his medical and psychiatric treatment for his mental illness and not be in the company of children without his parents.

Justice Rigg granted bail and Brooks is set to face committal proceedings in Newcastle Local Court on February 26.