Adelaide man, 20, pleads guilty in District Court to indecent filming and child exploitation material charges

An Adelaide teen filmed two children next door in the shower – not for sexual reasons but because he envied their childhood, a court has heard.

An Adelaide man filmed two children next door “in a vulnerable position” not for sexual reasons but because he envied their childhood, a court has heard.

The 20-year-old, whose name is suppressed, pleaded guilty in the District Court to six counts of indecent filming and to producing and possessing child exploitation material.

The court heard the accused, who was then 17 years and seven months old, filmed the children in the shower with a person believed to be their mother, through a lattice fence which separated the two properties, in March and May, 2019.

Later, police officers found vision of the children – aged six and seven at the time – on the accused’s computer while “investigating other matters”.

The 20-year-old man pleaded guilty in the Adelaide District Court. Picture: Roger Wyman

Judge Geraldine Davison said the accused’s offending had a “significant impact” on the family, and the children were “very anxious” and no longer able to sleep in their own beds.

“They should not have to live like that,” Judge Davison said.

“Your filming of your next door neighbours has left them feeling very vulnerable in their own home.

“Before your offending they did not feel the need to close blinds, lock doors or windows, because they felt safe.

“You have taken advantage of the children’s innocence and their sense of security and safety in their own home.”

Then, the accused filmed fellow students in high school’s unisex toilet after putting a mobile phone in an air vent, in August, 2019, just after his 18th birthday.

The accused admitted to the offending but said it was the first time he’d done it.

The court heard the teen filmed fellow classmates at an Adelaide high school. Picture: File

“That was not true,” Judge Davison said, with a number of “embarrassed” students later – including one under the age of 17 – identified from vision seized by police.

“All of them expressed their horror at the betrayal by you as their classmate and their violation of their privacy at the school,” she said.

“Filming people while they were in a vulnerable position in the shower or using a toilet has had a significant impact upon many.

“Once these films are in existence they can remain for all time, or be disseminated further.”

The accused was expelled from the school and most of his small friendship group abandoned him.

Later that month, police found 805 videos and pictures, deemed child exploitation material, on devices at the accused’s home.

Judge Davison said at least 382 images or videos were of children under the age of 14.

The court heard he had a difficult childhood due to having an acute cancer from a young age.

However, Judge Davison did not accept the accused’s excuse he filmed the children “because of the normality of their lives at that age that could be contrasted with your own at that time” and there was no sexual attraction.

He received a suspended three year, six month and 29 day jail term and a 12-month good behaviour bond due to his age at the time of offending.

“There is a degree of immaturity in relation to your offending,” Judge Davison said.

A non-parole period of two years was set.