Hobart man facing lengthy prison term for hidden camera videos

A man who told police there was “no chance” his phone contained child exploitation material is facing jail after filming dozens of videos prosecutors have described as degrading and humiliating.

Building Supreme Court of Tasmania

A Tasmanian father who told police there was “no chance” his mobile phone contained child exploitation material is facing a lengthy jail sentence after admitting to filming dozens of videos described by prosecutors as degrading and humiliating for his victims.

The 52-year-old man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in the Supreme Court on Thursday for a sentencing hearing, after pleading guilty to almost 30 criminal charges relating to his use of hidden recording devices throughout his Hobart home.

The defendant also admitted to multiple counts of sexually abusing a young person.

Crown Prosecutor Mick Allen told the court that the accused had purchased one of his live-streaming cameras during a family trip to Bunnings, while on another occasion he had used a mobile phone hidden inside a cardboard box.

Mr Allen said that the man’s guilty pleas had come in the face of an overwhelming prosecution case, which included hours-long videos found on his phone and hard-drive tower that were recorded in 2022 and 2023.

Mr Allen submitted that the defendant would remain an ongoing risk upon expiration of his sentence, and asked Justice Helen Wood to place his name on the community protection offender register for life.

The court heard the man held a current working with vulnerable people registration card throughout the course of his offending, which ended with his arrest in November 2023.

The accused’s lawyer said her client was deeply ashamed and remorseful, and understood that any sentence for his “obscene offending” needed to reflect community expectations.

Justice Wood told the defendant that he faced a lengthy term of imprisonment for his crimes, and remanded him to reappear on 2 April.

Originally published as Hobart man facing lengthy prison term for hidden camera videos