Teacher 'filmed student undressing'

A former drama teacher at Melbourne’s Lauriston Girls’ School secretly filmed students undressing with a hidden camera in his office. The case, heard in the County Court, involves admissions of producing and possessing child pornography and installing a surveillance device without consent.

Mark Stratford, 49, is the former drama teacher named in the court hearing. He admitted to producing child pornography, possessing child pornography and installing a surveillance device without consent.

The court heard the hidden-camera incidents occurred sometime between June 2008 and February 2009, when Stratford summoned students to his office and filmed them without their knowledge.

Prosecutors said Stratford placed a hidden video camera under his desk, asked an 11-year-old to change from her uniform into a "skimpy short dress" he provided, and filmed her without her knowledge. The video also showed him setting up the room before filming; two other students were filmed in the same way.

The court heard that at least three students were filmed without consent, including an 11-year-old. Prosecutors said Stratford admitted he did this on more than three occasions.

After a complaint, police raided Stratford’s home and uncovered a series of films and still images of children in explicit poses, which formed part of the evidence presented at the hearing.

The school conducted an internal investigation and dismissed Stratford following the findings, according to the court report.

Stratford faced the County Court and admitted the offences during a pre-sentence plea hearing. The hearing was reported as ongoing at the time of the article.