A teacher from Brisbane, Jayden Robert Carey, 30, has been charged with 41 counts of child grooming involving 13 young boys, with allegations that he used PlayStation's in-game chat to request degrading sexual acts in exchange for money and gift cards.
Alleged Grooming via Snapchat and PlayStation
According to court documents seen by the Courier Mail, Carey allegedly contacted his victims on Snapchat, offering PlayStation gift cards in exchange for selfies. Police claim that if a victim sent a photo of his penis, Carey would send an additional $100 gift card. One victim was reportedly offered $500 to visit Carey's home for 'something special,' while another was allegedly paid weekly over three months.
Police further allege that Carey sent 65 payments of up to $300 each to a 13-year-old boy in exchange for explicit photos or videos. This same boy was allegedly offered $50,000 to have sex with Carey but refused.
Fear of Being 'Flagged'
In one conversation on PlayStation's in-game chat, Carey allegedly asked a victim to move to another platform, citing concerns about being 'flagged.' Police also claim that Carey identified his victims using a 2024 school yearbook found in his home during a recorded interview.
Arrest and Charges
Carey was arrested in Queensland on June 4 last year after a Tasmanian police investigation. Officers allegedly found two photos of erect penises and a 13-second video of a young boy performing a sex act on his phone. The court heard that the child in the video lives in Western Australia, with initial contact made through PlayStation's online chat.
During a Brisbane Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday, the prosecutor stated that Carey admitted to possessing images and videos of children under 16. 'He has admitted to predatory offending against vulnerable male children aged between 11 and 15,' the prosecutor said. 'He has made admissions to a large number of the offences, albeit downplaying the seriousness of some of the charges.'
Bail Refused
Carey, representing himself, applied for bail to live with his grandparents after his sister refused to have him stay at her Sunshine Coast home. However, Justice Scott McLeod denied bail, citing the severity of the allegations and the risk of flight. Carey faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
He no longer works as a teacher in northern Brisbane and will return to Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 19.
