Marc Eric Goncalves D’Almeida filmed 58 people in shopping centre toilets

A retail worker who filmed people was only caught because a 10-year-old boy saw his phone under the cubicle. READ THE CHILLING REPORT

A RETAIL worker who filmed 85 people using the toilet at two major shopping centres was only caught because a 10-year-old boy saw his phone under the cubicle.

Marc Eric Goncalves D’Almeida will not spent a day behind bars despite the repeated breach of privacy for more than a year.

Police have only been able to identify one other victim of the invasive videos taken by Goncalves D’Almeida between April 27, 2018 and August 31 last year at the Stockland shopping centre in Burleigh Heads and at Pacific Fair, Broadbeach.

The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of making recordings in breach of privacy and one count each of attempted recordings in breach of privacy, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing utensils related to drugs.

Magistrate Kerry Magee sentenced him to 18 months probation. No conviction was recorded.

“These offences are extremely serious and they involve a gross and significant breach of privacy,” she said.

“I would ask how you would feel if you were one of the victims and a stranger or someone you had known had taken that recording and kept it.

“The behaviour is to my mind is quite disturbing.”

Aerial of Stockland shopping centre in Burleigh Heads. Picture: Google Maps.

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Police prosecutor Sergeant Erin Livingstone said a 10-year-old boy was using the toilets in the Burleigh Heads shopping centre on the afternoon of August 31 last year when he saw the mobile phone come under the cubicle.

The boy fled from the bathrooms and alerted his mother, who then went to security.

Sgt Livingstone said police were able to identify Goncalves D’Almeida through CCTV footage and it was found he worked at the shopping centre.

Police raided his Highland Park home days later and found the phone with 85 video recordings of men using public toilets.

“Most of the male victims were observed either showering, using urinals, using toilets to urinate, defecate or masturbate,” Sgt Livingstone said.

There were no videos taken of the boy.

She said police identified that the videos were taken at Goncalves D’Almeida’s home, the Stockland Burleigh Heads Shopping Centre and Pacific Fair.

The court was told some of the videos taken in his home were taken from outside in the bushes and through the bathroom window.

Sgt Livingstone said police were only able identify one of the victims who worked at the Burleigh Heads Shopping Centre through his work lanyard in the video.

She said he gave a statement to police saying he remembered seeing the phone but was not sure if it had been recording.

Defence solicitor Ross Oden said Goncalves D’Almeida was remorseful for his actions, particularly in relation to the boy.

“He understand it would have been an horrific incident,” he said.

“It would no doubt have lasting affects.”

Mr Oden said Goncalves D’Almeida usually tried to make a positive impact on those around him.

He said the retail worker had suffered domestic violence as a child and was now studying the arts.