Man denies sexual motive for filming girl in shower

A man who set up covert cameras to take intimate videos of a girl says there was no sexual undertone to his actions.

Judge Chris Sygrove had four words to sum up the victim-impact statement, which the girl’s mother read in Palmerston North District Court on Thursday: ‘‘Quite tragic, isn’t it?’’

The girl’s mother says Shaun Michael McCartney’s actions have left the entire family unable to trust men.

McCartney was sentenced to 18 months of intensive supervision and 150 hours’ community work for making four intimate recordings of the girl.

He was also ordered to pay $5000 emotional harm reparation.

McCartney, who knew the girl and her family, set up cameras in the bathroom and girl’s bedroom with the intention of recording her between the end of December 2020 and start of January 2021. He captured two videos of her in the shower, which he put on a flash drive that the girl’s mother found. Police found two videos of the girl in her bedroom after recovering the covert cameras.

The girl’s mother said she now knew the man’s offers to spend time with her and her family were actually him wanting to spend time with the girl.

‘The hurt and the pain you have caused to my children is difficult to comprehend.’’

She said she barely functioned afterwards, while her daughter was confused and scared. ‘‘I hope you get the help you clearly need so no-one else is a victim of your selfish actions.’’

McCartney told a pre-sentence report writer that he watched the videos a few times and had no sexual reaction.

He felt confused and disgusted by his actions and what they could have led from.

The report writer noted McCartney suffered a lack of consequential thinking and potential improper sexual arousal.

A psychiatrist who saw McCartney said he may have changed his view of the girl after noting sexually explicit messages sent to her.