Melbourne mum Jennifer Lay speaks out about childcare charges horror, urging others parents to come forward

A Melbourne mum has spoken out after discovering her two-year-old son may have come into direct contact with accused pedophile Joshua Brown who had worked at her childcare centre.

A Melbourne mother and lawyer has spoken out after discovering her two-year-old son may have come into direct contact with an alleged childcare predator now facing more than 70 child sex abuse charges.

Jennifer Lay, a solicitor with Shine Lawyers, was one of more than 2600 families contacted by the Victorian Department of Health and Victoria Police in relation to charges against Joshua Brown, who allegedly sexually abused multiple children under his care.

Brown, 26, is accused of abusing eight children — aged between five months and two years — while employed at Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023.

The Melbourne alleged sex abuser Joshua Brown. Picture Supplied.,

He remains in custody and is due to appear in court in September on more than 70 charges, including sexually penetrating a child under 12, sexually assaulting a child under 16, producing child abuse material, and attempting to sexually penetrate a child. He is also facing a charge of recklessly contaminating goods, relating to allegations he used bodily fluid to tamper with food.

Victoria Police is continuing to investigate additional allegations of offending at the Papilio Early Learning Centre in Essendon, where Brown worked until his arrest in May this year.

The exposure of Brown’s alleged crimes prompted health authorities to recommend infectious disease testing for more than 1200 children.

Ms Lay’s two-year-old son attended the Essendon centre full-time while Brown was employed there.

Jennifer Lay, a solicitor with Shine Lawyers, was one of more than 1200 families contacted by the Victorian Department of Health and Victoria Police. Picture: Instagram

“I didn’t understand the magnitude until I went on the news to see what it was about,” she said.

“When they released the photo of the accused, that’s when things really hit home. I recognised the face.”

Ms Lay said her trust in the system has been shattered and described the heartbreak of not knowing whether her son was a victim.

“I feel paranoid. Every little bump or mark he has, I now actually think is it really from the playground or is it something else?” she said.

“I just held him and cried. He’s so pure …. he’s also too young to know what is right and wrong or to speak up.”

An image of the Melbourne alleged sex abuser Joshua Brown. Picture: Supplied

Adding to her distress, she said the information on Brown’s employment time at the Essendon centre released by authorities was inaccurate.

She said she vividly remembers exchanging words with Brown during daily pick-ups, as well as seeing him at centre events including Father’s Day and Christmas lunches.

“I’m frustrated because the list said he was there from February to May, but he was there from September,” she said.

“There are so many questions: Did he hold my son? Did he touch him? Did he feed him? Did he change his nappy?”

The Creative Garden Early Learning Centre.

“The fact he allegedly contaminated the food makes me think about when he made things like this rocky road dessert and bring to morning tea for parents and the kids … I’m just trying to not think about it.”

Ms Lay and Shine Lawyers are now investigating potential legal action on behalf of affected families.

“There is a standard of duty of care to parents and their children to have them remain free of risk of any harm. This man had an erratic employment history,” she said.

“He worked at about 13 centres before coming to Papilio Essendon. I don’t understand how they didn’t question it,” she said.

She urged other affected families to come forward.

“Everyone’s missing a sense of direction or answers right now. We don’t know if our children were impacted,” she said.

“I recommend parents contact Shine Lawyers. Our team who look at sexual abuse cases are taking this seriously and investigating.”

Families can call Shine Lawyers on 1800 618 851

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Originally published as Melbourne mum Jennifer Lay speaks out about childcare charges horror, urging others parents to come forward