Game demands answers over release of convicted child sex offender

Family First Party Australia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

24 September 2026

Game demands answers over release of convicted child sex offender

Family First MLC Sarah Game will write to Premier Peter Malinauskas and Attorney-General Kyam Maher seeking answers over the release of convicted child sex offender Jayda Dean, who was sentenced under the name Josh Dean French.

Dean, a biological male who identifies as a woman, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated producing and two counts of possessing child exploitation material and was sentenced in 2022 to four years and 10 months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years and six months. The offending included filming sexually explicit material involving a five-year-old girl. Dean has now been released after serving the full sentence and, according to The Advertiser, is not subject to parole conditions or monitoring, although Dean will be listed on the Australian National Child Offender Register.

“This was appalling offending against an innocent five-year-old girl and South Australians are entitled to ask whether the punishment and post-release protections adequately reflect the seriousness of what occurred,” Ms Game said.

“I will be asking the Premier and Attorney-General seeking information about why such leniency was shown in this case and what options were available to authorities to ensure appropriate supervision after release.

“Most importantly, what protections are now in place for the child who was filmed? If there are no conditions or monitoring attached to Dean’s release, her family deserves to know how she will be kept safe.”

Ms Game said the case also raised serious questions about prison policy.

“Dean is a biological male and should never have been housed in a women’s prison in the first place.

“Women prisoners have a right to sex-based safety, dignity and privacy. A biological male offender’s transgender identity should not override those rights.

“Child protection must come first. The Government needs to explain how the community and particularly the child at the centre of this horrific offending  is being protected now that Dean is back in the community.”

End

Deepa Mathew 

08 82379414

[email protected]