Sydney teacher allegedly filmed child abuse material at north shore school
A teacher at a Catholic college on Sydney’s upper north shore has been sacked after “deeply distressing” allegations of producing and possessing child abuse material.
Richard Kenneth Harman’s employment at St Leo’s Catholic College Wahroonga was terminated on Thursday, Catholic Schools Broken Bay said in a statement.
Harman, 61, appeared in court on Thursday afternoon charged with five counts of intentionally recording intimate image without consent, producing child abuse material and possessing child abuse material.
He was arrested on Tuesday after reports of child abuse material on electronic devices at a Hornsby home brought detectives to the address about noon.
One USB drive was allegedly found containing covertly filmed footage of females in public and in a school environment, police said in a statement.
Harman was taken to hospital for assessment while police continued searching the home, seizing devices for further examination. Detectives allegedly found several recordings captured on the grounds of the Wahroonga school where he worked.
‘Staff, parents and students have been briefed and offered support.’
Catholic Schools Broken Bay
Catholic Schools Broken Bay said after they learned of the arrest “for alleged serious, criminal, non-contact offences which allegedly occurred in 2024” his employment was terminated in line with its protocols.
“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,” the statement said.
After Harman was discharged from hospital on Thursday afternoon he was charged with five counts of intentionally recording intimate image without consent, producing child abuse material and possessing child abuse material.
Harman did not apply for bail and it was formally refused at Hornsby Local Court, where he is due to appear again on November 18.
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