Stepfather began covertly filming stepdaughter out of ‘concern’, court told

A stepdad began filming his stepdaughter out of “concern”, but it then “spiralled” as he set up cameras in her bedroom and bathroom, a court has heard.

A stepfather who began covertly recording his stepdaughter out of concern then “spiralled” into more sinister filming after he discovered he had captured her naked, a court has heard.

The man, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the victim, said he initially set up cameras to film the house because he was “concerned” about who she was spending time with.

He later set up cameras in the girl’s bedroom and bathroom.

He appeared in the District Court after earlier pleading guilty to producing child exploitation material and indecent filming of a person over 17.

In a victim impact statement the girl’s mother read to the court, the victim said she thought the man had been “the best father” until she discovered his offending.

“The first time I noticed the camera under the bathroom door, I didn’t believe it was him,” she said.

“I tried to pretend it wasn’t anything and that I was imagining things but I continued to feel really uncomfortable.

“I felt uncomfortable getting dressed in my own room. Sometimes I would get my clothes and get changed under my bedsheets.”

She said the offending worsened when the family moved house.

“I felt like I was always being watched and there was nowhere safe to go.”

The girl’s mother said the offending triggered a “monumental sense of betrayal”.

“You are the worst person I have ever known or allowed into my life,” the mother said.

“There are no words or apology that could ever make up for what you did.”

The stepfather’s charges relate to the production of two still images of child exploitation material taken from covertly filmed videos, and three indecently filmed video files.

Prosecutor Tori Lauder said investigators found a further 130 videos and thousands of images but that material had been deleted, leaving limited metadata, and was not the subject of any charge.

She said the only appropriate penalty was a jail term.

Joanna Caracoussis, for the man, said the stepfather had “become quite concerned” about the girl’s behaviour “and who she was spending time with”.

She said he purchased a covert camera “for the purpose of who was coming and going from the house”.

“It then got to a point where on viewing the video he did observe a video where (the girl) was in a state of undress and unfortunately it spiralled from there,” she said.

Ms Caracoussis said the man became addicted to the offending and took “quite elaborate steps with respect to camera placement”.

The man will be sentenced this week.