Pervert chiropractor Peter Snodgrass, who secretly filmed patients undressing, still being deceptive, court told

An Adelaide chiropractor says he is remorseful for secretly filming hundreds of women undressing — and is even positive about prison — but a psychiatrist isn’t convinced.

Peter Wayne Snodgrass betrayed the trust of his clients, filming them at their most vulnerable regardless of their age.

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A disgraced, perverted chiropractor is still trying to present himself as an honest, law-abiding man despite having secretly filmed hundreds of vulnerable women, a court has heard.

On Monday, a mental health expert told the Supreme Court that Peter Wayne Snodgrass remains a significant risk of reoffending if his underlying issues are not identified and treated in prison.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Owen Haeney said Snodgrass — who spent years hiding, and then denying, his offending — had made a “sudden switch” to a very different attitude, which he found “concerning”.

Snodgrass’ latest opinion of himself, he said, was “incongruous” with the facts of his case and reflected “shame rather than guilt”.

“I’ve never heard anyone to be quite so positive about prison before … he was enthusiastic and motivated … he said he ‘felt good’, his sleep was ‘fantastic’, his appetite was ‘sensational’,” he said.

“There was a level of deception … he was trying to present himself as an open, honest person who always follows the law and tells the truth, even though that’s clearly not the case.

“He presents as remorseful and regretful, but more focused on the effects upon himself and his own career rather than his victims.

“Without identifying the root causes of his offending, he cannot hope to engage in meaningful treatment … my concern is there is a significant risk of Snodgrass reoffending.”

Snodgrass’ victims said they had trusted him with their spines and their mental wellbeing, only to be betrayed.

Snodgrass, 50, pleaded guilty to 216 charges stemming from the secret filming of clients, as well as the indecent assault of some others, at his Rostrevor practice.

Between 2012 and 2017, he used his mobile phone, two pen cameras and a clock radio containing a camera to film women in his changeroom

On two occasions, used a handheld camera to film clients as he massaged them, claiming it was part of his “coping mechanism” following his wife’s death from cancer.

He has told the court he had “just wanted to see more boobs” and was “reckless” as to the age of his victims, one of whom was just 11 years old.

Snodgrass’ victims, who “once held him in the highest of esteem”, said his behaviour subjected them to “death by a thousand cuts” into their confidence and self-worth.

Snodgrass has blamed his criminal acts on a “sex addiction”, claiming they were his “coping mechanism” following the death of his wife.

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On Monday, Dr Haeney said he interviewed Snodgrass in March, receiving only “incomplete explanations” for his offending.

“He did not think it was to do with getting a thrill at all … he said, ‘I wanted to see their boobs and bums’,” he said.

“I asked why he had not used the internet (for pornography) and he said ‘I don’t know’, which I felt was rather inadequate given what was at stake.

“He kept repeating it was about wanting to see women’s bodies … there are ways to do that without committing an offence, without putting one’s whole life, career and liberty at risk.”

Dr Haeney said Snodgrass lied about ceasing his crimes when deregistered by health watchdogs — blaming the incident on “a loonie” — and failing to acknowledge he continued working as a “postural mechanic” for several months.

He had tried to blame both his wife’s death, and her family’s grief, for his offending but had started dating another woman within 12 weeks — and continued offending throughout that relationship.

Snodgrass was dismissive about both the lewd file names he gave his video collection, saying “that was just how I put things in folders”, and of filming an 11-year-old girl, saying “it was terrible, but it was only one”.

“He has narcissistic tendencies, but I stop short of making a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder,” Dr Haeney said.

“I feel we do not have the answers to what motivated Snodgrass’ offending, and that concerns me in terms of reoffending.”

The hearing, before Justice Anne Bampton, continues.