Bradley Walsh: Corowa dad grooms teenage girl

A Corowa father sent a picture of his penis to who he thought was a 13-year-old girl, asking for naked photos and sexual videos in return.

Bradley Walsh leaving Albury Local Court on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

A Corowa father of two sent a picture of his penis to who he thought was a 13-year-old girl, asking for intimate photos and videos in return, a court has heard.

Bradley Walsh, 40, appeared before Albury District Court this week to plead guilty to using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, and using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16.

Court documents reveal from July 1 to October 6, 2020, Walsh was using Skype to message a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl but was undercover police.

On 10 occasions Walsh, who was unemployed and living in Corowa with his wife and two children, asked for naked pictures, videos, and descriptions of the girl. He also sent police pictures of his penis.

Walsh initiated conversation with the girl on an online chatroom — ChatIW — before the pair swapped Skype details.

Walsh introduced himself as a 32-year-old man from Albury and asked the girl for some “naughty fun”, before the girl introduced herself as 13-years-old and from Sydney.

Court documents showed Walsh stated: “Oh ok. Sorry … I was going to say sex talk but if your (sic) too young then no.”

The girl then replied: “Oh ryt. I’ve neva dun that sort of stuff b4. Am I 2 young?”

Walsh then told the girl: “Depends, on you.”

Walsh then asked the girl if she had ever “played with herself” or “seen another girl naked” and if she had a “sexy butt”.

Walsh sent a picture of his face through Skype, and the girl sent a picture of herself fully clothed.

Over nine more conversations, Walsh asked for pictures of the girl naked, as well as pictures and videos of her masturbating, and described how she should masturbate using the handle of a toothbrush or hairbrush.

He also discussed potentially meeting the girl in person.

In conversation on July 14 and August 10, 2020, Walsh sent the girls pictures of his penis.

On August 10, Walsh said he needed a picture of the girl naked as he was beginning to get suspicious she was actually “a cop”.

The girl sent another picture of herself fully clothed.

On September 22, the girl asked Walsh if he was serious about meeting with her in person.

Walsh stated: “I just feel like I shouldn’t because of your age. What I’ve been talking about, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have.”

However, in October, Walsh messaged the girl again asking for pictures of her naked to prove she was a real person.

Police attended Walsh’s Corowa address and arrested him on October 13, 2020, seizing his electronic devices.

During an interview with police, Walsh said he thought what he did was disgusting, and was ashamed of what he’d done.

He told police he thought the age of consent in NSW was 16 or 18.

Walsh’s defence barrister Tim Marsh said his client’s sentencing assessment report stated he was at low risk of reoffending, and that he had been seeing a psychiatrist to address his behaviour while he was on bail.

“It would appear he’s making earnest attempts to address his offending, attending nine sessions already,” Mr Marsh said.

Walsh was sentenced to an 18 month Commonwealth Recognizance Release Order, to be of good behaviour, with the condition he continues to see his psychiatrist.