The husband of a wedding planner who organized Margot Robbie's nuptials has been jailed after plotting to sexually abuse an 11-year-old.
Wedding celebrant Adam Magnus, 53, was sentenced to more than two years in prison after bragging about how he was going to sexually assault an 11-year-old girl.
However, with him already behind bars awaiting sentencing, Magnus was able to walk free in May.
Magnus had tried online to groom a mother, who was actually an undercover police officer, and plot to abuse her 11-year-old daughter.
The 53-year-old, who lives in Lennox Head near Byron Bay in north-eastern NSW, told the officer his wife had “no idea” of his double life.
“I'm sure your husband has no idea of your thoughts,” Magnus wrote on a chat site in February under the alias “verydirtymindguy,” according to court documents obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Wedding celebrant Adam Magnus, 53, sent this photo of himself to what was thought to be the mother of an 11-year-old
“I'm 53 and my wife has no idea either.”
'I'm a nice guy (sic) but like to take control, I like it hot, dirty, kinky and pervy.'
After sending a photo of himself relaxing in a lounge with a glass of wine – the same image he used to promote his wedding celebrant business – Magnus told the detective online that he was attracted to “young” girls.
“How young?” the officer replied.
“From 10,” Magnus said.
Magnus also instructed “the mother” to introduce her child to pornography, sending pages of messages outlining explicit and twisted fantasies of what he wanted to do with both mother and child.
Eventually, Magnus spoke to the undercover officer on the phone and he suggested a meeting place in Ballina, in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.
“Does she (the daughter) know this is our special secret?” Magnus asked during one of the conversations.
Police attacked when Magnus arrived at the designated spot on March 14.
Arresting officers discovered Magnus' ute contained a bag filled with sex toys, rope and a camera, according to a police document.
Magnus and his wife Jane (pictured left) run a wedding events business that has attracted regular customers
Magnus pleaded guilty earlier this month to using a carriage service to solicit a child under 16 for sexual activity and to using a carriage service to groom a child under 16.
Judge Priestly sentenced Magnus to 27 months in prison, including 14 months non-parole, meaning he will be eligible for release in May 2024 under strict conditions.
Magnus spent eight months in the Clarence Correctional Facility before his conviction and did not apply for bail.
In September 2020, Magnus placed a police amber alert for missing girl Laine Ella-Hyland, who was then 11 years old and subsequently found safe and sound.
Below the message is the comment: “I hope you didn't steal her.”
“Check your basement freak,” someone else says.
Both comments were attracted by a third party.
Magnus' wife Jane prides herself on hosting 'rock star parties' through her Byron Bay Luxury wedding company.
Mrs. Magnus is not accused of any wrongdoing and there is no indication that she was aware of her husband's alleged crimes.
The couple, who have four adult children together, first met while working on a failed restaurant project, which later led to the wedding events business.
In a June 2020 Facebook post, Magnus described himself as a “true all-rounder” and praised his “beautiful wife Jane.”
Ms Magnus hosted the 2016 wedding of Hollywood A-lister Margot Robbie and producer Tom Ackerley at the Coorabell estate near Byron Bay
“You may know her, she is a bit of a legend in the wedding industry and together I think we make a great team,” he wrote.
The pair worked together at the wedding of designer Dan Single and his supermodel wife Stephanie 'Bambi' Northwood-Blythe in 2014, with Jane planning the big day and Adam acting as celebrant.
When Single and Northwood-Blythe later split, it was the Magnuses who broke the news to Daily Mail Australia.
Arguably the highlight of Ms Magnus' career came when she was given responsibility for organizing the intimate wedding of Hollywood A-lister Margot Robbie and producer Tom Ackerley in 2016 at the Coorabell estate.
Magnus was not the celebrant.