John Benedict Brooks

criminal

John Benedict Brooks, a convicted paedophile in his early 70s, made headlines after a judge ruled that he could retain the proceeds from the sale of his home despite police attempts to seize the property under proceeds of crime laws. In 2023, Brooks was arrested by the Australian Federal Police for possessing 212 images of child sexual abuse and engaging in illicit online conversations. He was sentenced to two years in prison in March 2025, but was released immediately on a good behaviour order. In a recent court case, Brooks successfully argued that his home was primarily a dwelling and not an instrument of his crimes, leading to the court's decision to allow him to keep the $370,000 from its sale.