Teacher charged with filming up girls' skirts
Date August 8, 2013
Nick Ralston
Crime Reporter
Robert Emmett, left, leaves Sydney's Central Local Court after being granted bail on five counts of filming a person's private parts without consent. Photo: Ch 7 News
A Sydney high school teacher who is the son of a high profile legal family has been charged with filming up the skirts of females, including students at his own school.
Robert Emmett, the son of NSW Court of Appeal Judge Arthur Emmett and Federal Magistrate Sylvia Emmett, and the grandson of former Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court Laurence Street, was charged by police after several commuters allegedly witnessed him filming up the skirt of a woman on the train platform.
Mr Emmett, a mathematics teacher at St Andrew's Cathedral School in the city, was searched by police who found a mobile phone and tablet that allegedly showed ''several instances'' of girls and women being recorded inappropriately.
Among the alleged victims are year 9 students at the school where he teaches.
The 36-year-old from Ashfield has been charged with five counts of filming a person's private parts without consent.
The Head of St Andrew's College, Dr John Collier, on Wednesday sent a letter to parents informing them of ''some disturbing news'' relating to a long term staff member.
Dr Collier said police, who visited the school on Wednesday and seized computers used by Mr Emmett, had advised him that most of the offences occurred outside the school.
However, he said there were allegations of one instance of a ‘‘largely unsuccessful’’ attempt to film three female students. The alleged footage showed ‘‘their legs’’ as well as their faces allowing them to be identified. The parents of the alleged victims have been informed and the school is offering counselling.
Mr Emmett appeared in Sydney's Central Local Court on Wednesday where he was granted strict conditional bail. The matter returns to court on September 18.
