Aidan Warbrick: HMAS Albatross Able Seaman convicted for transmitting sexual material without consent
A disgraced South Coast naval officer will spend at least a month in a Defence Force correctional centre, after he borrowed a colleague’s phone and sent himself a video of her having sex without her knowledge.
A disgraced South Coast naval officer will spend at least a month in a Defence Force correctional centre, after he borrowed a colleague’s phone and sent himself a video of her having sex without her knowledge.
Navy Able Seaman Aidan Warbrick, 23, fronted HMAS Albatross Military Court in Nowra Hill on Tuesday, pleading guilty to using a carriage service to transmit sexual material without consent.
Agreed facts state that in 2024 Warbrick was handed a female colleague’s phone to play music, providing her passcode so he could access her library.
Instead, Warbrick — who enlisted in 2021 — opened a locked photo folder and found a video of the woman engaging in sexual intercourse with another person.
He also found an image of her exposed buttocks.
The facts state Warbrick then sent both files to his personal phone without her consent or knowledge.
Five days later, Warbrick’s then-girlfriend discovered the material and realised it had been sent from the woman’s device.
She alerted the victim, who confronted Warbrick over social media.
The next day, Warbrick made full admissions at HMAS Albatross and surrendered his phone and evidence of the offending.
In court, prosecuting officer Captain William Levingston said the “reckless’’ behaviour would not be tolerated.
“[Warbrick’s] actions violated the trust of the complainant and his actions demonstrate a lack of integrity,” he said.
But defence counsel Major Dan Coombs argued that while the conduct was “a huge breach of trust”, Warbrick’s immediate confession showed integrity.
“This was a full confession with evidence to back it up,” he said, submitting the sailor had shown genuine remorse.
Two senior sailors also gave character references, saying the offending was out of character and praised Warbrick’s work ethic and morals.
Defence Force Magistrate Scott Geeves said the breach of trust was serious and carried broader consequences for the navy.
“It’s not only unacceptable on your behalf, but I hope you carry with you a degree of shame and embarrassment,” he said.
“You found something on her phone and you took it upon yourself to squirrel it away.”
Mr Geeves said the sentence needed to send a strong message.
“If some others out there think this type of offending comes without consequence, they are to be sorely mistaken,” he said.
“The need for general deterrence is strong because the breach of trust was so high.”
Warbrick was convicted and sentenced to 30 days in the Defence Force Correctional Establishment.
Any offending within 12 months of his release will trigger a further 30 days behind bars.
He will continue serving at HMAS Albatross after completing his sentence.
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