Melbourne childcare worker pleads not guilty to 156 charges

A childcare worker accused of a series of serious crimes against children in his care has formally pleaded not guilty to more than 150 charges, though his lawyer indicated he accepts responsibility for a significant portion of the alleged offending. Joshua Dale Brown, 27, appeared via videolink from Barwon Prison in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, where the case was committed to a higher court for further legal proceedings.

Brown faces 156 charges, including allegations of sexually abusing multiple children, producing child abuse material, contaminating food with bodily fluids with intent to cause public alarm, and unrelated animal abuse offences. During the hearing, his defence barrister, Rishi Nathwani KC, told the court his client accepted a significant amount of the alleged conduct. Nathwani described the not guilty pleas as "holding pleas" and said the remaining issue was determining precisely how the charges would be framed and which would proceed. He stated that discussions with prosecutors had been exhausted and both sides required the assistance of a County Court judge.

Crown prosecutor Michael Stanton SC agreed that further court assistance was needed,...