Dylan Stares sentenced for filming woman in shower at Woronora Heights

A rail worker’s drunken actions to film a woman having a shower in the privacy of her south Sydney home has been labelled “perverted and a disgrace”.

Dylan Stares has been convicted for filming a woman having a shower in her Woronora Heights home. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A heavily intoxicated soon-to-be father filmed a female neighbour in the shower when he attended a house party at Woronora Heights, a court has heard.

Dylan Matthew Stares, 25, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to observing a person in a private act without consent to obtain sexual arousal and entering enclosed land without lawful excuse.

Agreed facts tendered to court state a woman was showering in her single storey home at Woronora Heights about 11pm on December 11.

When she got out, she noticed a white frame that looked like a phone outside the open window.

She walked over to see Stares laying down below her bathroom window causing her to scream out to her husband, who ran outside but could not find Stares.

The unlocked car belonging to the woman’s daughter was in the driveway and two doors were open.

There was also a pair of white underwear on top of the car and a beer located in the rear, with multiple items shuffled around inside.

There was also a urination mark on the tyre and rim.

Dylan Stares was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.

Police were called and canvassed the area for CCTV cameras and witnesses before officers were told the woman’s neighbour had mentioned his friend Stares was responsible.

Stares was arrested at his Campbelltown home on January 22 and made full admissions to filming the woman and being in the daughter’s car.

In court, defence lawyer Carlos Cofre said his client was “really apologetic” to the court and the woman.

He said being charged had “served as a wake up call” for Stares to take action to address his alcohol consumption.

Mr Cofre said Stares had “little recollection” of the night, including the underwear, and was severely affected by alcohol when he was attending a social gathering at a friend’s house.

The court heard Stares had deleted the recording and took accountability.

Mr Cofre said Stares had undertaken an alcohol and drug recovery program and was seeing a psychologist, adding Stares had stopped contact with the friends who were “bad influences” in his life.

Mr Cofre said Stares was “very remorseful” and was stressed, depressed and anxious about the charges.

The court heard character references said Stares was a “caring, responsible, diligent and hard working” man who worked as a shift supervisor for a rail company.

Mr Cofre said Stares’s partner was pregnant and his client would become a father for the first time with the couple in the process of purchasing their first house.

Mr Cofre said Stares knew his actions “fell well below community standards”.

Magistrate Philip Stewart acknowledged Stares was remorseful and had apologised to the victim.

He noted his limited driving record and his psychological treatment and steps towards rehabilitation.

“What you did was perverted and a disgrace,” Mr Stewart said.

Stares was convicted and sentenced to a community correction order for two years where he must perform 300 hours of community service work, participate in treatment as directed and abstain from drugs.