Latest news with #VictoriaPolice
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Child is diagnosed with sexually transmitted disease after hundreds of toddlers had to be tested over links to alleged daycare monster - as cops prepare to lay even more charges against him
A child who attended a daycare centre where a worker was subsequently charged with more than 70 child sex offences has been infected with a sexually transmitted disease. Sources close to the investigation into childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, have revealed to Daily Mail Australia that a young child has since been diagnosed with gonorrhoea. It is a disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the genitals, rectum, and throat. In both males and females, infection is known to cause intense pain when urinating and is typically treated with antibiotics. It is understood the child attended one of the Point Cook daycare facilities in Melbourne's west where Brown had been employed. Brown worked at a total of 23 childcare centres over an eight-year period between January 2017 and May 2025. The parents of 2,000 children have been urged by authorities to have them tested for infectious diseases after Brown's alleged offending was revealed on July 1. Victorian Department of Health and Victoria Police refused to comment this week, but reiterated that they believe few children are at risk of being infected. 'Our Chief Health Officer last week stated: "…test results we've received to date as part of this investigation reaffirm that the risk is low",' a health department spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. 'This advice remains unchanged. We are unable to comment on an individual's private health information.' On Tuesday, Brown fronted the Melbourne Magistrates' Court where the court heard Victorian detectives still face a mammoth task to finalise their case against the alleged child molester. Brown has engaged top Melbourne barrister Rishi Nathwani KC to head his defence. In attempting to have his client's charge sheets withheld from the media, Mr Nathwani revealed the case against his client remained very much 'in flux'. An affidavit supplied by detectives to the court said the investigation was incomplete and needed more time to compile the final brief of evidence against Brown. 'Your honour has had the benefit of the affidavit which indicates that the police are working very hard,' Mr Nathwani said. 'There's quite a lot for them to get through and as a consequence your honour sees there's discussion there about potential further charges and I would say potential amendments, changes etc going forward (to the brief). 'So at this stage it's entirely premature, given how serious this is, and it could prejudice any future proceedings. 'I ask your honour to resist it, not grant it at this stage and revisit it once we have the full brief of evidence when matters are properly known and I anticipate a different summary, with more detail and potentially different charges.' Mr Nathwani also referred to a suppression order granted for the Erin Patterson trial, who was found guilty of multiple murders just weeks ago. 'It's the same sort of situation,' he said. 'It says material that could influence a jury - if this matter gets to a jury - the court should in these rare circumstances intervene.' While no formal application for a suppression order was made, the informal application to hide the charges from the public was opposed by the media on the grounds the court had a mandate to open justice. Magistrate Donna Bakos agreed, telling Mr Nathwani the charges were a matter of public record. 'They're filed and ordinarily the press are granted access to charge sheets ... unless there is good reason, obviously, not to,' she said. Ms Bakos granted the media access to the charge sheets, which are expected to be emailed to news outlets sometime on Tuesday afternoon. The magistrate further allowed the prosecution to delay filing its final brief of evidence until December, with the next court date set for February next year. Co-accused Michael Simon Wilson, 36, who also faces charges related to child abuse material, will reappear in court in November. While the pair are known to each other, according to court documents, it remains unclear how Wilson is linked to Brown. It is understood Wilson's alleged offending is not connected to childcare facilities or any of the children alleged to be victims in the other case. Brown, from Point Cook, southwest of Melbourne, is facing charges including the sexual penetration of a child, producing child abuse material and recklessly contaminating goods to cause alarm or anxiety. The alleged offending happened during his time at Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Point Cook, where he worked between October 2021 and February 2024. In December 2021, Brown's partner posted a photo of the pair which featured the alleged paedophile grinning with pink and blue dyed hair. Pictures also emerged of a tattooed Brown interacting with children at one of the 20 daycare centres where he worked. Police are also investigating allegations of other offending at a childcare centre in Essendon. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she was 'sickened by these allegations of abuse'. Liberal Shadow Minister for Education in Victoria Jess Wilson has criticised the State Government's plan to conduct a rapid review into the childcare sector. Victorian Children's Commissioner told the ABC the Brown case would not be part of that investigation. 'I think it's deeply troubling,' Ms Wilson told Melbourne's 3AW radio station. Ms Wilson said the case must be included to understand broader systemic failures. Brown has remained in custody since his arrest in mid-May. His Point Cook home was raided by police shortly after an investigation was launched earlier that same month. He was not known to police before his arrest and had a valid Working With Children Check, which has since been cancelled.
The Advertiser
10 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Police given more time to investigate accused pedophile
Accused pedophile Joshua Dale Brown's court case has been delayed because detectives need more time to gather evidence against him. The childcare worker did not appear for a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date. Brown, 26, has been charged with 73 offences relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care. He first faced court on May 12 for a filing hearing but the case was suppressed until Victoria Police released the allegations on July 1. Brown was due to return to court in September but magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday granted the prosecution's application to push his next hearing back to February 10. She accepted detectives needed more time for their investigation and it was likely more charges would be laid in the interim. Police will have to serve their brief of evidence to the defence by December 4, the magistrate ordered. Brown's barrister Rishi Nathwani KC did not oppose the prosecution's application, telling the court he would need time to consider the material as well. He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing. "Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely," Mr Nathwani told the court. But Ms Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and she was not prepared to restrict access. "Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released," she said. It's alleged Brown abused eight children aged under two at a Point Cook centre in Melbourne's southwest between April 2022 and January 2023. The Creative Garden Early Learning Centre was one of the 24 childcare sites Brown worked at across Melbourne between January 2017 and his arrest, Victoria Police say. The charge sheets state he intentionally sexually touched an unknown child "where the touching was contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct" on 13 separate occasions. Brown is also accused of producing and transmitting child abuse material, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of children, and sexually penetrating children aged under 12. The 26-year-old is facing a separate charge of contaminating goods with intent to cause, or being reckless as to whether it would cause, public alarm or anxiety. Victorian authorities have advised the parents of about 2000 children who crossed paths with Brown to get them tested for infectious diseases after he allegedly contaminated food with bodily fluids. Brown's co-accused Michael Simon Wilson, 36, also did not appear in court on Tuesday, although prosecutors sought an extension of his committal mention date. Wilson will return to Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 15, with detectives given until October 4 to compile the brief of evidence. He is facing charges including rape, possessing child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) Accused pedophile Joshua Dale Brown's court case has been delayed because detectives need more time to gather evidence against him. The childcare worker did not appear for a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date. Brown, 26, has been charged with 73 offences relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care. He first faced court on May 12 for a filing hearing but the case was suppressed until Victoria Police released the allegations on July 1. Brown was due to return to court in September but magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday granted the prosecution's application to push his next hearing back to February 10. She accepted detectives needed more time for their investigation and it was likely more charges would be laid in the interim. Police will have to serve their brief of evidence to the defence by December 4, the magistrate ordered. Brown's barrister Rishi Nathwani KC did not oppose the prosecution's application, telling the court he would need time to consider the material as well. He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing. "Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely," Mr Nathwani told the court. But Ms Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and she was not prepared to restrict access. "Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released," she said. It's alleged Brown abused eight children aged under two at a Point Cook centre in Melbourne's southwest between April 2022 and January 2023. The Creative Garden Early Learning Centre was one of the 24 childcare sites Brown worked at across Melbourne between January 2017 and his arrest, Victoria Police say. The charge sheets state he intentionally sexually touched an unknown child "where the touching was contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct" on 13 separate occasions. Brown is also accused of producing and transmitting child abuse material, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of children, and sexually penetrating children aged under 12. The 26-year-old is facing a separate charge of contaminating goods with intent to cause, or being reckless as to whether it would cause, public alarm or anxiety. Victorian authorities have advised the parents of about 2000 children who crossed paths with Brown to get them tested for infectious diseases after he allegedly contaminated food with bodily fluids. Brown's co-accused Michael Simon Wilson, 36, also did not appear in court on Tuesday, although prosecutors sought an extension of his committal mention date. Wilson will return to Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 15, with detectives given until October 4 to compile the brief of evidence. He is facing charges including rape, possessing child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) Accused pedophile Joshua Dale Brown's court case has been delayed because detectives need more time to gather evidence against him. The childcare worker did not appear for a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date. Brown, 26, has been charged with 73 offences relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care. He first faced court on May 12 for a filing hearing but the case was suppressed until Victoria Police released the allegations on July 1. Brown was due to return to court in September but magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday granted the prosecution's application to push his next hearing back to February 10. She accepted detectives needed more time for their investigation and it was likely more charges would be laid in the interim. Police will have to serve their brief of evidence to the defence by December 4, the magistrate ordered. Brown's barrister Rishi Nathwani KC did not oppose the prosecution's application, telling the court he would need time to consider the material as well. He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing. "Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely," Mr Nathwani told the court. But Ms Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and she was not prepared to restrict access. "Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released," she said. It's alleged Brown abused eight children aged under two at a Point Cook centre in Melbourne's southwest between April 2022 and January 2023. The Creative Garden Early Learning Centre was one of the 24 childcare sites Brown worked at across Melbourne between January 2017 and his arrest, Victoria Police say. The charge sheets state he intentionally sexually touched an unknown child "where the touching was contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct" on 13 separate occasions. Brown is also accused of producing and transmitting child abuse material, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of children, and sexually penetrating children aged under 12. The 26-year-old is facing a separate charge of contaminating goods with intent to cause, or being reckless as to whether it would cause, public alarm or anxiety. Victorian authorities have advised the parents of about 2000 children who crossed paths with Brown to get them tested for infectious diseases after he allegedly contaminated food with bodily fluids. Brown's co-accused Michael Simon Wilson, 36, also did not appear in court on Tuesday, although prosecutors sought an extension of his committal mention date. Wilson will return to Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 15, with detectives given until October 4 to compile the brief of evidence. He is facing charges including rape, possessing child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) Accused pedophile Joshua Dale Brown's court case has been delayed because detectives need more time to gather evidence against him. The childcare worker did not appear for a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date. Brown, 26, has been charged with 73 offences relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care. He first faced court on May 12 for a filing hearing but the case was suppressed until Victoria Police released the allegations on July 1. Brown was due to return to court in September but magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday granted the prosecution's application to push his next hearing back to February 10. She accepted detectives needed more time for their investigation and it was likely more charges would be laid in the interim. Police will have to serve their brief of evidence to the defence by December 4, the magistrate ordered. Brown's barrister Rishi Nathwani KC did not oppose the prosecution's application, telling the court he would need time to consider the material as well. He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing. "Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely," Mr Nathwani told the court. But Ms Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and she was not prepared to restrict access. "Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released," she said. It's alleged Brown abused eight children aged under two at a Point Cook centre in Melbourne's southwest between April 2022 and January 2023. The Creative Garden Early Learning Centre was one of the 24 childcare sites Brown worked at across Melbourne between January 2017 and his arrest, Victoria Police say. The charge sheets state he intentionally sexually touched an unknown child "where the touching was contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct" on 13 separate occasions. Brown is also accused of producing and transmitting child abuse material, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of children, and sexually penetrating children aged under 12. The 26-year-old is facing a separate charge of contaminating goods with intent to cause, or being reckless as to whether it would cause, public alarm or anxiety. Victorian authorities have advised the parents of about 2000 children who crossed paths with Brown to get them tested for infectious diseases after he allegedly contaminated food with bodily fluids. Brown's co-accused Michael Simon Wilson, 36, also did not appear in court on Tuesday, although prosecutors sought an extension of his committal mention date. Wilson will return to Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 15, with detectives given until October 4 to compile the brief of evidence. He is facing charges including rape, possessing child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Qantas flight successfully makes priority landing with 63 people on board
A Qantas flight has made a priority landing in Mildura after suffering technical issues after takeoff. Sources said the plane had 'lost hydraulics on its wing flaps'. The QF2079 flight from Mildura to Melbourne took off at about 10.40am on Tuesday with 63 people on board. Soon after, the pilots realised something was wrong with the flight and made a plan to safely land the plane. The pilots completed a series of circuits so that the plane would dump fuel before executing an emergency landing at Mildura. Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria crews were on the ground and waited for the plane to land at the airport. In cases where only one hydraulic system fails, the impact on the aircraft is usually minimal, and the plane can continue to fly and even auto-land without significant issues. However, when two hydraulic systems fail - which is a rare occurrence - the aircraft cans till be flown manually but without autopilot and with reduced functionality. Two hydraulic systems fail generally leads to a longer landing distance as some of the components, including spoilers, normal braking and flaps might not be operational. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas for comment. Victoria Police said the pilot was able to land the plane safely and no one was injured during the incident. 'Police along with other emergency services were called to an airport in Mildura following reports of an aircraft incident just after 11am, where it appears there was an issue with the aircraft,' Police said. 'The plane landed safely, the pilot and passengers weren't injured.'
7NEWS
16 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Qantas flight from Mildura to Melbourne forced to make emergency landing
A regional Qantas flight bound for Melbourne has been forced to make an emergency landing. Flight QF 2079 left Mildura Airport, in Victoria's northwest near the NSW border, about 10.40am on Tuesday. According to flight tracking data, the plane began flying in circles not long after take-off and was forced to make an emergency landing back at Mildura Airport. Multiple emergency services agencies were waiting at the airport for the plane upon landing. Police said it appeared there was an issue with the aircraft. 'The plane landed safely, pilot and passengers weren't injured,' Victoria Police said. It is unclear why the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing. Qantas and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been contacted for comment. Stream free on
9 News
16 hours ago
- 9 News
Accused childcare paedophile has court date pushed back
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Accused paedophile Joshua Dale Brown won't face court again until next year, after a magistrate gave police more time to gather evidence against him. The childcare worker did not appear for a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates' Court today, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date. Brown was in May charged with more than 70 offences relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care. Joshua Brown, 26, was arrested on May 12. (Supplied) The 26-year-old worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025, Victoria Police say. Magistrate Donna Bakos today allowed the police to serve the brief of evidence to the defence by December 4, with Brown's next court date listed for February 10. She accepted that detectives needed more time for their investigation and that it was likely more charges would be laid. Brown's barrister, Rishi Nathwani KC, did not oppose the application, telling the court he would need time to consider the material as well. He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing. "Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely," Nathwani told the court. But Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and she was not prepared to restrict access. "Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800. Melbourne Victoria courts crime national Australia CONTACT US Auto news: Why Australians are still driving around without insurance.
