Mother in schoolgirl uniform sneaks into Gympie State High School
A woman who dressed like a student in order to sneak onto the grounds of Gympie State High School and investigate allegations of bullying there has fronted court and been fined hundreds of dollars.
Police & Courts
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A mum who disguised herself as a high school student in order to walk around the grounds of her daughter’s school and “investigate” her “bullies” has been fined $450 for trespassing.
The woman, who cannot be identified because of a special court order, pleaded guilty to committing the offence at Gympie State High School on January 30, 2024.
She dressed in a school uniform, which police prosecutor Melissa Campbell described as an “overt action to deceive people”.
Prior to the incident, the mother had reported to the school that her daughter was being bullied.
Her lawyer, Chris Anderson, said she felt the school did not respond in a “protective” way.
She walked onto the school grounds with her daughter, and CCTV footage captured her interacting with students and walking around “casually”, Sergeant Campbell said.
When confronted, she engaged in a verbal altercation with a staff member, who felt “threatened”.
Mr Anderson said the woman did not assault anybody on the school grounds, nor act in an aggressive way to students.
He said she only intended to “investigate”, not engage with the bullies.
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Magistrate Bevan Hughes said he understood the act “did not occur in a vacuum”, but “there are lawful ways for you to act protectively”.
He issued a $450 fine but ordered no conviction be recorded.
Mr Anderson applied to the court for an order to prohibit the publication of the mother’s name and identifying particulars.
Mr Hughes accepted his submission, and said that naming the defendant could “endanger the safety” of her children.
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