Top Sydney barrister caught with child abuse material at airport, police allege

A prominent Sydney barrister has been charged after the Australian Federal Police allegedly found child abuse material on his phone, including a photo of a young boy and chats about wanting to rape a teenager, when he returned from a trip to South-East Asia, where he runs a charity for disadvantaged youngsters.

Mark Dennis, SC, was arrested after returning to Sydney on a flight from Cambodia on Tuesday.

Officers from the AFP and Australian Border Force searched Dennis’ luggage and allegedly found child abuse material on his phone and devices linked to a cloud storage account.

“During an examination of the man’s mobile phone, ABF officers located suspected child abuse material. The matter was reported to the AFP for further investigation,” a statement from the agencies reads.

“AFP members attended and on further examination of the device, identified alleged child abuse material and sexualised conversations with and about minors.”

Electronic devices were seized from his luggage and a search warrant was executed at his home in Leichhardt.

Dennis was charged with possessing, distributing and importing child abuse material.

The prominent senior counsel appeared in court, head bowed, in a grey jumper on Wednesday as Crown prosecutors urged a magistrate not to release him on bail.

“There are chats with at least two individuals … the chats divulge the prosecution’s view of sexual interest in children under the age of 18 years,” prosecutor Jon Kisch told the court.

“There’s an awareness of laws around consent and a willingness to subvert those laws.

“There’s a description of potentially a desire to rape a 16-year-old … I appreciate that’s as far as it goes, but certainly very disturbing chats.”

The court heard 12 devices were linked to a Dropbox account, which included a single photograph of a boy aged six to 10. Other images are believed to have changed hands in the chat, Kisch said.

When the AFP raided Dennis’ home they allegedly found an iPad which had a note on it suggesting that if it was connected to the internet it would be deleted. It left investigators fearing Dennis could access or wipe the evidence if released.

“There is a real concern, given the way that some of the material has been stored, that it can be accessed remotely and images or content deleted,” the prosecutor said.

Dennis’ barrister, Michael Burke, with whom he shares the floor at Forbes Chambers, told the court his client was immediately winding up his practice.

“Mr Dennis will be immediately ceasing practice in the foreseeable future as a barrister,” Burke said.

“He’s practised in the same chambers since 2001 … he’s going to have to undertake the quite lengthy task in winding down and stopping a practice that’s 40-plus years.”

Dennis sat silently as the court heard he was diabetic and had health complications, and needed to be released to prepare his defence. Ultimately, the magistrate agreed and released Dennis on bail.

The 65-year-old is a high-profile figure in Australia’s legal fraternity. He was the principal solicitor of the Western Aboriginal Legal Service, and won the prestigious Terry Keaney Memorial Award, among other accolades.

He is also highly active in charities and non-profits in both Australia and Cambodia, where his philanthropy has been directed towards children and young people.

He co-founded Reasonable Cause in 2020 to help disadvantaged young people with scholarships and literacy in the impoverished Cambodian regions. He visits the country twice every year, according to an online profile.

Police are investigating Dennis’ activities overseas, but no charges have been laid.

Reasonable Cause hosts a conference each year for legal experts to hear from the most esteemed minds in their field. The conference directs all of its profits, close to $100,000 a year, to the Cambodian charity.

This year, three magistrates were expected to speak followed by barristers, politicians and public figures.

Dennis himself was expecting to give the final lecture, “Calling Bullshit on the Ten Commandments of Cross-Examination”.

Dennis writes extensively on criminal matters under the moniker “Dark Menace”, a play on his name. His most recent paper, in November 2025, instructs barristers how to conduct cross-examination, including in child abuse cases.

“Criminal trials are like pop music – every song has an underlying emotion (albeit sometimes a very simple emotion),” Dennis wrote.

“An allegation of child sexual assault brings forth the emotion that child sexual assault is a putrid crime committed by deeply evil people.”

Anyone needing support can contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028, Lifeline 13 11 14, and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.

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