St Leo’s Catholic teacher Richard Kenneth Harmon allegedly filmed students at Wahroonga private school
A private school teacher will remain behind bars on remand after investigators allegedly uncovered a stash of child abuse footage of students inside a Sydney school. Here is what we know.
A teacher will remain behind bars on remand after investigators allegedly uncovered a stash of child abuse footage of students inside a Sydney school and produced child abuse material.
NSW Police arrested Richard Kenneth Harmon, 61, of Hornsby on Tuesday, following a tip that electronic devices found inside his home allegedly contained child abuse material.
A Catholic Schools Broken Bay spokeswoman told The Nightly that the staff member of Wahroonga-based St Leo’s Catholic College, “was arrested for alleged serious criminal, non-contact offences which allegedly occurred in 2024”.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Detectives will allege in court they found “covertly filmed footage of females in public places” on a USB inside the teacher’s home, while “further videos allegedly depicted similar conduct within a school environment”.
It is understood the man was employed at a private school on the upper north shore.
“A crime scene was established at the Hornsby address, and a crime scene warrant was executed, during which investigators seized a number of electronic devices for forensic examination,” a NSW Police representative said in a statement on Friday morning. “Following further analysis of the seized devices, detectives allegedly identified several recordings captured on the grounds of a school in Wahroonga, where the man was employed as a teacher.”
Officers charged the man with five counts intentionally record intimate image without consent, produce child abuse material and possess child abuse material.
The Catholic Schools Broken Bay spokeswoman said “consistent with our protocols, the staff member is no longer employed at CSBB”.
“This is deeply distressing news, and our main priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our students. Staff, parents and students have been briefed and offered support,” she said. “As this is a matter before the courts, and investigations are continuing no further information can be provided.”
He was refused bail in Hornsby Court on Thursday.
