Anthony Glen Peebles, 20, spared jail after pleading guilty to sexual assault, producing child abuse material

A former school captain has been spared jail after he filmed himself touching a seven-year-old girl on multiple occasions.

Anthony Peebles pictured in November 2022.

A Bannockburn man who filmed himself touching a seven-year-old girl on multiple occasions has been spared jail.

Anthony Glen Peebles, 20, pleaded guilty in the Melbourne County Court on August 1 this year to charges including sexual assault by touch of a child under the age of 16 and producing, transmitting and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

On Wednesday, Judge Gregory Lyons placed Peebles on a recognizance release order, which means he must be of good behaviour for 35 months.

Peebles was also placed on a community corrections order for 35 months.

He is a former school captain at Bannockburn P-12 College.

Former Bannockburn College captain Anthony Peebles pictured in 2020. Picture: Supplied

During the hearing in August, the prosecution conceded Peebles met “exceptional circumstances” and was unlikely to face any time behind bars.

Judge Lyons told Peebles he was “dead lucky”.

“Some people in life win Tattslotto, some people find someone they love and they get to marry and live a happy life, the rest of us bumble through the best we can,” he said.

“You have had your Tattslotto win … usually people don’t win Tattslotto twice.”

Peebles’ home was raided by police in early 2023 after he filmed himself touching a seven-year-old girl on three occasions.

The videos range from four to 22 seconds and show the victim clothed however Peebles exposes parts of her body at times or “smacked her buttocks”.

In one video, Peebles asks the victim “are you being naughty?” and in another “pinned her down”.

The court heard Peebles sent several videos to an American man, known as Evan.

Peebles told police Evan had been blackmailing him into supplying CSAM by threatening to send nude pictures of him to family members.

Peebles also told officers he “didn’t hurt” his victim and had not “gone to any other levels”.

During the search, police found 3096 files including 2432 images and 664 videos containing CSAM on two phones and a hard drive.

The material featured both male and female children, with ages ranging from infants to 15.

Originally published as Anthony Glen Peebles, 20, spared jail after pleading guilty to sexual assault, producing child abuse material