Perth Paedophile Freed Again, Child Protection Minister Cites Constitutional Concerns

A notorious Perth paedophile who breached his prison release conditions 11 times has again been freed into the community, as the child protection minister argues it may be unconstitutional to keep him in custody.

WARNING: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing.

Bradley Pen Dragon, 66, has spent half of his life behind bars, including serving a 13-year term in Thailand for sexually assaulting a teenage girl, and for holding a knife to a woman as she tried to put her child in her car in Perth.

In 2022, he was determined to be a "high-risk serious offender" and was subjected to a 10-year supervision order with more than 60 strict conditions.

Dragon was convicted of breaching those conditions 11 times between November 2022 and March 2025 and was taken into custody yet again.

The breaches included donating to a children's charity, possessing two Blu-ray movies with children on the cover and in the film, and possessing a book with naked adolescent models.

Risk manageable, court told

Over two days of hearings earlier this year, the Supreme Court of WA was tasked with determining whether Dragon should remain in detention or be released on an amended supervision order.

The court heard from three expert witnesses, including consultant psychiatrist Dr Wynn Owen, who was of the opinion any risk posed by Dragon could be managed in the community under a supervision order.

He told the court he believed it was highly likely that Dragon would comply with the conditions of the supervision order, and that conditions could be consolidated.

Dr Owen said he believed the onerous nature of the previous order had "seriously contributed" to a decline in Dragon's mental health.

No 'serious offence': judge

In a decision delivered on Friday, Justice McGrath said he was satisfied the risk of Dragon reoffending could be managed in the community with strict conditions under a supervision order.

"In making that determination, I am mindful that the respondent did not commit a serious offence whilst in the community subject to his supervision order," he said.

"Further, the expert testimony is supportive of the finding that the respondent would substantially comply with the standard conditions of the supervision order."

Dragon was released from Hakea Prison on Monday morning and will be subject to an amended supervision order with 47 conditions, including electronic monitoring, until 2032.

Constitutional issues

Minister for Child Protection Simone McGurk said there were "incredibly rigorous" restrictions being put on Dragon.

"I can understand people's concerns," she said.

"But the reality is that any further attempts to imprison him without criminal activity or some sort of breach of his conditions is likely to be challenged in the courts as being in breach of our constitution.