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ABC News
ABC News
National
BY Angela Ho and Joanna Menagh

Notorious Perth paedophile Bradley Pen Dragon arrested just days after release from jail

Bradley Pen Dragon appeared briefly in court this morning and made no application for bail. (Supplied: Anne Barnetson)

Notorious paedophile Bradley Pen Dragon is back in jail after being charged with possessing images of children, just four days after being released from prison.

Police confirmed the 62-year-old has been charged with contravening a requirement of his supervision order.

He was released last week subject to a 10-year supervision order and more than 60 strict conditions, including that he be electronically monitored.

Dragon appeared briefly in Perth Magistrates Court this morning and made no application for bail.

The charge was officially read to him — that on June 23 he breached a condition of his supervision order by possessing images of children — but he was not required to plead.

Dragon has spent half of his life in jail, including a 13-year sentence in Thailand. (ABC TV)

Dragon spoke only to confirm his name and to acknowledge that he understood the charge.

He was remanded in custody until his next appearance in court, to be made via video link from prison, in two weeks.

Dragon's controversial release

Dragon completed serving all his sentences in December 2021, but was kept in custody while the Supreme Court determined whether he should be declared a "high risk and serious offender".

About a month ago Justice Larissa Strk made that declaration, but ruled that any risk of reoffending by Dragon could be adequately managed by a 10-year supervision order and 62 conditions.

Dragon was jailed in 2019 for downloading child pornography two days after being released from prison. (ABC News)

They include that Dragon be monitored electronically, that he lived at a specified address, was subject to a curfew and provided a verbal or written account of all his proposed movements to his community corrections officer.

He was also banned from having contact with any child under the age of 18 unless it was approved, and was also required to undergo psychological and anti-libidinal treatment.

Dragon has spent half of his life behind bars, including serving a 13-year term in Thailand.

Speaking today, Premier Mark McGowan said he was against Dragon's release at the time.

"The state government appealed so he would not be let out. The court let him out subject to conditions," he said. 

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