Police have a laid a new charge against a teacher accused of filming students in the bathroom of a Melbourne primary school, a court has been told.
Year 3 teacher Timothy Blamires, 33, was arrested at Kingswood Primary School on April 28 after a hidden camera was allegedly found by a cleaner in a school bathroom.
It’s alleged a camera was located inside a fragrance dispenser in a male toilet block.
Police will allege the device was seized and stored inside the principal’s office awaiting police collection before Mr Balmires retrieved it and tried to conceal the camera in the sick bay.
Footage of students urinating was allegedly located on a hard drive installed in the device and police seized electronics from Mr Blamires’ home.
He was charged with five offences, including producing child abuse material and installing a surveillance device. He has not been required to enter pleas.
Mr Blamires returned before the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning via video link from a custody centre as it was revealed a new charge of possess child abuse material had since been laid.
Magistrate Meagan Keogh was told this was a “commonwealth indictable charge that cannot be heard summarily”, meaning the case is likely now destined for the County Court.
Ms Keogh remanded Mr Blamires into custody to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court next Tuesday for a filing hearing.
Mr Blamires’ teaching registration was suspended on April 30 and the Department of Education says it is working to support the school community.
