Sick instructor ‘hid digital camera in main faculty’s bogs to secretly movie youngsters’
Timothy Blamires, 33, was denied bail over fears he could tamper with evidence after being charged with producing and possessing child abuse material
Teacher Timothy Blamires, 33, has been accused of filming students in the toilet(Image: 7 News)
A primary school teacher allegedly hid a secret camera inside a toilet air freshener to film young boys, a court has heard. Timothy Blamires, 33, appeared via video link at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court in south Melbourne, Australia following his arrest last Tuesday which saw him charged with producing and possessing child abuse material
He was denied bail after the court heard disturbing details of his alleged crimes at Kingswood Primary School in Dingley Village.
The grim discovery was made by a school cleaner who spotted a concealed camera stashed inside an odour dispenser in the boys’ toilets. The device was reportedly positioned to point directly at the urinals.
After finding the device, the cleaner bagged it up and left it on the headteacher’s desk. However, prosecutors claim that Blamires snatched the camera and hid it in a drawer in the school’s sick bay.
When police eventually arrested him, the odour dispenser was reportedly found inside his bag at the school. Magistrate Timothy Gattuso refused to let the teacher walk free, after highlighting an “unacceptable risk.”
The court heard allegations that footage on the camera showed Blamires setting up the device and it captured footage of children using the toilet.
Blamires was also claimed to have provided police with passwords that “were not accurate.”
Refusing the bail application, Mr Gattuso said: “You appear to have removed the device that had been located in the toilets by the cleaner, from the principal’s office, and apparently hid it.”
Blamires’ brother reportedly offered a AU$50,000 (£26,000) surety and promised the accused would live with him to ensure he followed strict conditions.
However, the prosecution argued that Blamires posed a threat to the public and was likely to tamper with evidence or interfere with witnesses if released.
Among those in attendance at the court was the mother of a student a the school, who told ABC News she “needed to see” the man accused of the vile acts.
She said: “I think I was the first one to break down in the court room. It was extremely difficult but I needed to see it. I just needed to be here… just to be able to process this whole situation.”
Police have seized a haul of electronic devices, including laptops, mobiles and tablets, from Blamires’ home as the investigation into child abuse material continues.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
