Teacher 'filmed student undressing'

Mark Stratford, 49, faced the County Court after admitting to producing child pornography, possessing child pornography and installing a surveillance device without consent.

The court heard that Stratford had a hidden video camera under his desk when he asked for the 11-year-old to come to his office, some time between June 2008 and February 2009.

Crown prosecutor Susan Borg said the girl was in class when summoned by Stratford. Ms Borg said once there, Stratford asked her to change from her uniform into a "skimpy short dress provided by him" and took a secret video of her.

"The indecent sexual manner, or context being alleged, involved the accused setting up a hidden video camera under his desk in his office and asking the complainant to change out of her school uniform and into a skimpy dress provided by him, in full view of the camera," she said. "The complainant was unaware she was being filmed."

She said that the video also showed him setting up the room before filming the girl. Two other students were also filmed in the same way without their consent, the court heard.

"He admits that he did this on more than three occasions," Ms Borg told a pre-sentence plea hearing. A complaint was later made to police, who raided his home and uncovered a series of films and stills of children in explicit poses.

Stratford was dismissed by the school after an internal investigation. The hearing continues.