Dylan Raddatz: Former Terrace student attaches phone to pole, films woman as she sleeps

A former student from one of Brisbane’s elite high schools has faced court after attaching his phone to a pole and using the makeshift device to film a woman as she slept.

In an act a judge said demonstrated a “high level of creepiness”, a young man attached his phone to a metal pole and raised it to the second storey of a woman’s home to film her while she slept, a court has heard.

Dylan Raddatz, 28, of Benowa appeared in Beenleigh District Court on Wednesday, July 27 on one count of recording in breach of privacy.

The court heard he was arraigned and pleaded guilty to the charge in June this year, after committing the offence in March last year.

Prosecutor Larissa Peddell said the Gold Coast man attended a woman’s Eagleby address late at night, attached his mobile phone to a metal pole with tape, and held it up to the second floor of the house where she as sleeping.

He proceeded to film eight videos, between one to three minutes in length, of the woman as she slept.

Ms Peddell said police located the videos of the woman “at her most vulnerable” on the man’s phone some three months later, calling the offence an “incredible” breach of privacy.

Defence solicitor Daniel McShane told the court his client was a “very different” man to the Dylan Raddatz, who had previously come before Beenleigh Magistrates Court.

Born in Brisbane, he said Raddatz was educated at St Joseph's College Gregory Terrace and studied a certificate in construction at TAFE before spending his early career working as a function manager.

The court heard his life began to spiral when he became “hooked” on ice but he has since overcome the grips of drug addiction.

Mr McShane said Raddatz attended the Beenleigh Police Station of his own accord in June last year, handing his phone over to officers when asked.

It was then police discovered the videos of the victim sleeping.

Judge Craig Chowdhury said the facts of the matter were concerning and his “alarming” behaviour demonstrated a “high level of creepiness”.

He took into account Raddatz’ timely plea of guilty, the “significant taste of prison” he already had, and his personal circumstances when deciding an appropriate penalty, acknowledging it seemed he managed to get his life “back on track” after offending.

Raddatz was sentenced to two years’ probation and no conviction was recorded.