Nigel Patrick Brady in court for child exploitation material

A former farm worker and convicted child rapist, who repeatedly stole women’s underwear and was caught with vile videos and photos of children being abused, has defended himself in court after his lawyers quit.

A convicted child rapist with a history of stealing women’s underwear has faced court for possessing child exploitation material and stalking.

Nigel Patrick Brady, 44, pleaded guilty to possessing child exploitation material, unlawful stalking, possessing dangerous drugs, trespassing and stealing when he faced Maryborough District Court this month.

Representing himself after his lawyers withdrew, Brady spoke on his own behalf, sometimes through tears, as he was sentenced by Judge Vicki Loury.

The court heard Brady’s home was searched by police on June 14, 2023, during which his phone, laptop and a portable hard drive were seized.

An examination on each revealed the presence of child exploitation material.

After an analysis, a total of 240 images were found, many of them duplicates. There were 71 unique images and 27 videos, the court was told.

The photos largely showed prepubescent children with their genitalia exposed, but some showed children involved in sexual acts with adults, the court heard.

The unlawful stalking charge involved Brady following a woman around a supermarket, then to her car, then to another supermarket on April 29, 2023.

Because of his conduct the woman did not leave her home for weeks unless accompanied by another person, the court heard.

On June 7, 2023, he trespassed under a woman’s house and stole her underwear, then on June 14, 2023, when the search warrant was executed, he was found in possession of a water pipe and cannabis.

Brady told Judge Loury of his struggles on parole and how the loss of a job on a farm after a police visit had sent his life spiralling.

“I was in a dark place and I just started isolating myself,” he said.

Nigel Patrick Brady, 44, pleaded guilty to possessing child exploitation material, unlawful stalking, possessing dangerous drugs, trespass and stealing when he faced Maryborough District Court this month.

Brady said the jail was overcrowded and that had impacted on him and while in prison he was disconnected from the community, which had impacted on his rehabilitation.

But he said his mindset had changed dramatically during his time in custody, and he had “hit the reset button”.

“I’ve tried to do everything I can to try to change my frame of mind,” he told the court.

Brady said he’d been working in the wood shop five days a week to keep his work ethic going.

He submitted emails sent between himself and a friend as a character reference.

“I have shot myself in the foot with quite a large gun, your honour, but deep down I am a good bloke.”

Brady asked to be released from custody immediately.

“Well, how are you going to get some home if I release you today? You’re in prison greens,” Judge Loury said.

Brady said he had clothes at the watch-house.

He said if he was released, he would be able to walk from the courthouse to his parents’ home in Maryborough.

“It’s not really that far,” he said.

“I could probably contact my family and they could come pick me up.”

Judge Loury said Brady had a “relevant and concerning” criminal history.

On seven previous occasions since 2003 he had been convicted of offences that involved entering homes or trespassing on land and stealing women’s underwear.

On March 15, 2018, Brady was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape and four counts of indecent dealing with a child under 12, along with stalking.

He was sentenced to four years in prison the court heard.

The rapes involved the digital penetration of an eight-year-old child, the court was told.

The stalking happened over five months and involved Brady repeatedly entering a woman’s home and stealing her underwear.

On April 12, 2023, he was convicted of entering premises and committing an indictable offence along with stealing and a number of trespassing offences.

He was sentenced to 15 months in prison with a parole release date after serving 145 days.

“That offending also involved you trespassing onto property and stealing women’s underwear,” Judge Loury said.

Maryborough Court House. Photo: Valerie Horton/ Fraser Coast Chronicle.

The fresh offences were committed while Brady was on parole.

Judge Loury said the report she had received from the parole office was not “particularly good”.

Brady had the support of his family, and his mother had written a letter in support of him.

His parents were willing to have him stay in their home, Brady said.

He had worked in the wood shop during his time in custody, and Judge Loury said she understood only model prisoners were permitted to work in industries, and that “reflected well” on him.

She said it was concerning that Brady had started reoffending not long after getting out of prison.

“You were released on April 12, 2023, and by the 29th of April you were following a woman around the supermarkets and by June, stealing underwear again,” she said.

But he had expressed his remorse and shame, she said.

Judge Loury said Brady needed to be supervised in the community and to achieve that she would put him on two years' probation and a three-year suspended jail sentence, given he had already spent 10 months in jail.

“The suspended sentence is designed to reflect the seriousness of your offending and the probation order is designed to provide the necessary assistance you need to deal with your deviant sexual urges,” she said.

“I’m going to impose a special condition that you engage in such medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment as is deemed appropriate by the probation service.”

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Originally published as Nigel Patrick Brady in court for child exploitation material