Pedophiles Stewart Iain Berry and Mathew Campbell ask court to protect them while serving their imminent prison terms

This couple sexually exploited children for their own sick whims – now they want a court to shield them from “exceptional hardship” while in jail.

Mathew Campbell, right, alongside his husband and fellow child exploitation offender Stewart Iain Berry on their wedding day. Picture: Supplied.

A married couple who admitted sexually exploiting children are now owed “a duty of care” by authorities to be protected from “exceptional hardship” in jail, a court has heard.

Stewart Iain Berry and Mathew Campbell have told the District Court their time in prison will be harsher than other convicted sex offenders, given their specific personal circumstances.

Counsel for Campbell said they were concerned the Department for Correctional Services (DCS) may not be able to tend to his “medical needs”.

Counsel for Berry, meanwhile, said their client’s former position as a “senior” DCS manager at Port Lincoln Prison placed him at great risk behind bars.

Alex Rice, for Berry, urged the court to order reports from DCS ahead of sentencing to determine whether his client could safely serve a prison term.

“We ask for a report into how Berry was kept safe from the harm posed to him by prisoners upon his initial remand (after arrest) for 52 days,” he said.

“It should also deal with what can be done practically to alleviate the exceptional hardship that will be caused to Berry upon his incarceration.

“The Department for Correctional Services owes this man a duty of care.”

Berry, 39, pleaded guilty to producing child exploitation material, sexually abusing a child and inciting or procuring a child to commit an indecent act.

Stewart Iain Berry. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Mathew Campbell. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

He is a member of an online pedophile syndicate, busted by SA’s elite Joint Anti Child Protection Team, that also involved:

LEADER Jadd William Brooker, who is yet to be sentenced for 182 offences.

BARISTA Michael Drennan, who was jailed for possessing and spreading child exploitation material.

POLITICAL ADVISER Benjamin John Waters, who received a suspended sentence.

BLACKMAILER AND STANDOVER MAN Leon Ronald Scarffe, who is yet to be sentenced.

Campbell, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child exploitation material.

He was not a member of the syndicate, but his crimes were discovered at the same time JACET arrested his husband.

On Thursday, Michelle Barnes, for Campbell, asked her client not face sentencing submissions until a psychological report, and one by DCS, had been obtained.

“The medical report raises concerns … it would be appropriate to source a report from Corrections as to how they intend to manage my client’s medical needs,” she said.

“That report will need to address whether (prisons) are able to address and deal with his specific medical needs.”

Laura Brown, prosecuting, said she did not oppose adjourning the hearing, but asked both Berry and Campbell both face court at that hearing.

“The victim that Berry abused is the same victim in the majority of the possession of child exploitation charges against both men,” she said.

“I expect that victim will read their victim impact statement in court … we ask the matters be heard together so that the victim doesn’t have to do that more than once.”

Judge Jane Schammer agreed, remanding Berry and Campbell on continuing bail to face court again next month.

Originally published as Pedophiles Stewart Iain Berry and Mathew Campbell ask court to protect them while serving their imminent prison terms