Predator photographer Michael Townsend confronted by victims and families in court

A predator photographer has been labelled ‘a monster’ after he brazenly groped young girls during home photo shoots, including in front of their parents.

A predator photographer has been confronted by some of his victims and their families in court, being labelled “a monster” for his heinous actions.

Michael Andrew Townsend, 38, will learn his fate next year after he brazenly groped young girls during home photo shoots, sometimes in front of their parents.

Multiple victim impact statements were read to the District Court on Wednesday by prosecutor Dr Peter Salu and one by a mother of a victim.

One victim said at the time of Townsend’s offending she felt like it was her fault but she had since moved past that.

“You hurt me a lot, I trusted you … but then you abused my trust,” she said.

Michael Townsend pleaded guilty to indecent assault and possessing child exploitation material. Picture: Linkedin

Another victim said they used to love modelling and getting photos taken but now they hated it, while another quit dance because of Townsend’s offending.

One parent said it made her so angry when Townsend contacted her straight after to apologise for what he did.

“When this first happened I was disgusted, I was angry and I felt violated,” she said.

“You have ruined our lives. You’re a monster.”

Dr Salu described Townsend’s offending as “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

“You find or are approached by a photographer who specialises in children,” he said.

“You leave the room and something happens or in more brazen than that, the conduct occurs, as it did here, in front of them.”

Dr Salu said the offending, which involved indecently assaulting multiple victims, including following one into a locked bathroom, was a “gross breach of trust” and “predatory”.

The court heard child exploitation material was found on Townsend’s computer, which included 266 images of children under 14, and search terms which Dr Salu described as “disturbing” and “revolting”.

Dr Salu said some of the ways Townsend asked children to pose for photos were the same as child exploitation files “where very bad things are happening”.

Townsend pleaded guilty to multiple counts of indecent assault and one count of possessing child exploitation material, dating back to 2020.

The court heard Townsend, a married father, had written a letter of apology to his victims.

Ursula Matson, for Townsend, told the court because of her client being “hands on” in his business to get the best shot he became very complacent and normalised the behaviour.

“What he did to these victims, for some reason, just did not compute in his mind as being inappropriate,” she said.

Ms Matson said Townsend now accepted what he did was horrendous and heinous and he was incredibly remorseful for his offending.

Judge Anthony Allen will sentence Townsend in February.