A prominent Melbourne swim coach has been arrested and charged with multiple child sex offences after allegedly meeting a 13-year-old girl on social media and engaging in explicit conduct.
Poolside Arrest at Prestigious School
Jayden Brian, 32, was arrested in October last year while coaching students at the pool of Methodist Ladies' College (MLC), where he had worked for nine years. The Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard he was taken into custody by detectives at the school grounds.
Prosecutors told the court that when informed of the complainant's name, Brian reacted by saying "s--t" in a drawn-out tone, followed by repeatedly uttering "oh f--k". This exchange was allegedly captured on body-worn camera.
Alleged Grooming and Explicit Material
Police allege Brian connected with the child on a social media app in September 2025 before moving their conversation to Snapchat. The court heard he quickly turned discussions sexual, repeatedly requesting and receiving intimate images from the 13-year-old.
It is alleged they arranged to meet for sex on September 30, with Brian agreeing to buy alcohol and cigarettes for the girl. However, they met earlier on September 25 when Brian allegedly arrived in his partner's Mazda 3 sedan.
Police claim he kissed and touched the child in the car before leaving and later sending her a $50 Amazon digital gift card. The girl reported the incident to police two days later, triggering an investigation.
Undercover Operation and Device Evidence
The court heard that on September 29, a covert police operative began communicating with Brian while posing as a 15-year-old. Brian allegedly claimed to be 17 during these explicit and flirtatious conversations where he requested to meet the undercover officer.
On October 3, Brian allegedly sent a photo of himself wearing an MLC T-shirt to the operative. He was approached and arrested "moments later" at the school pool.
Senior Constable Matt Henning gave evidence that police found upwards of 50 child abuse material images and videos on Brian's devices, including his phone and a school-issued iPad. He also described "hundreds or thousands" of photos of schoolgirls, some deemed inappropriate.
Bail Opposition and Further Allegations
Police are opposing bail, arguing Brian represents an unacceptable risk to the community with a demonstrated "propensity" to target vulnerable underage girls on social media. Evidence suggests he had been communicating with young girls on social media since at least 2018.
Police have contacted a second complainant, a woman who was 17 in March 2021 when she allegedly met Brian on a dating app. She claims he paid her for explicit images while knowing her age.
The court heard the 13-year-old victim and her family are "extremely against" bail being granted due to her vulnerability.
Defence Arguments and School Response
Brian's barrister, James McQuillan, noted that the "majority" of alleged child abuse material dated from September 2025. The court heard Brian is a carer for his fiancée, who was "not coping" without his support.
Brian's father, Alistair Brian, offered equity in the family home as a bail guarantee and promised to report any breaches. Defence suggested strict bail conditions including bans on internet access and smartphone possession.
Methodist Ladies' College confirmed Brian is no longer employed at the school. Police told the court there were no complaints about him offending against MLC students, and the school had reported no concerns.
Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz adjourned the bail application part-heard until the following Friday. Brian faces nine charges including sexually touching a child under 16, grooming for sexual conduct, and possessing child abuse material.
