South Sydney rookie Toby Sullivan lashed by Magistrate for filming without permission during sex

A South Sydney rookie — who was awarded the club’s senior male pathway’s forward of the year — has copped a lashing from a Magistrate after pleading guilty to intentionally recording an intimate image without consent.

Toby Sullivan appeared in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday and admitted he filmed a woman while they were having sex in 2023, despite the fact he did not have her permission.

Sullivan avoided a conviction but he certainly got a serve from Magistrate Michael Barko.

Barko wondered why Sullivan could not “enjoy the sunset” without the use of his phone.

“Can’t you people do anything without a mobile telephone?” Mr Barko said.

“Can’t you enjoy a sunset, outside or even sexual intercourse?

“I’m getting really sick of this TikTok and Instagram stuff.

“Photos of their food or even on the toilet to show the world, to show their mates … given your sporting background, I don’t understand why other sporting people don’t stop you bringing your phone out when you’re out and about.”

Mr Barko said “intimate and sensitive interactions should never be filmed”.

“Some would argue the defendant was even lucky to be there, much less share it with his mates,” Mr Barko said.

Barko imposed an 18-month conditional release order on Sullivan.

The incident happened on December 16, 2023 and Sullivan was charged in March this year..

Sullivan met the 34-year-old woman at the Coogee Pavilion Hotel. He was out with mates and CCTV footage showed him and the woman on the dancefloor.

They left the hotel and the couple later had consensual sex at an address in Bondi.

Court documents said that Sullivan took his phone out when the victim was facing away and he started filming.

When she realised, she deleted the video, but he told her, “it’s just for the boys”.

The incident was reported to the police the next day.

At the time Sullivan was charged, he originally said he knew nothing about the incident. He even denied being at the Coogee Pavilion Hotel.

Court documents said police were later to retrieve the deleted videos.

A selfie of Sullivan and the woman was also found in the deleted files.