<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The childcare worker did not appear for a brief hearing in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> Magistrates' Court today, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Brown was in May charged with more than 70 offences relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/peter-ryan-death-abc-journalist-dies-after-45-years-as-a-journalist/75d1e997-126d-457b-8c87-23af32dbd26e" target="_blank"><strong><span>ABC journalist Peter Ryan OAM dies aged 64, a month after retirement</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 26-year-old worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025, Victoria Police say.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She accepted that detectives needed more time for their investigation and that it was likely more charges would be laid.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/accused-childcare-pedophile-has-court-date-pushed-back/9a0500d2-8f60-4c09-b9b9-a37a71c94e77" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Brown's barrister, Rishi Nathwani KC, did not oppose the application, telling the court he would need time to consider the material as well.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely," Nathwani told the court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and she was not prepared to restrict access.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://kidshelpline.com.au/"><strong><span>Kids Helpline</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span> 1800 55 1800.</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>