A former Mackay-based rugby league coach has admitted in court to secretly recording women without their knowledge, pleading guilty to five charges connected to the unlawful capture and distribution of intimate images.
The man appeared in the Mackay Magistrates Court, where he entered guilty pleas to offences involving multiple victims. Court documents state the offending included secretly filming women in private situations, recording their genital regions, and in some instances distributing intimate material without consent.
The offences are alleged to have occurred between 2022 and 2025, with at least two women identified as victims. The court heard that the recordings were made in circumstances where the women had a clear expectation of privacy, making the conduct a serious breach of trust and personal boundaries.
Prosecutors outlined that the accused used covert methods to obtain the recordings, and that the material caused significant emotional distress once discovered. The case has been treated seriously due to both the nature of the offences and the repeated pattern of behaviour over time.
Police investigations were supported by digital forensic analysis, which allegedly uncovered evidence of the recordings across devices linked to the former coach. Following this, he was arrested and charged, leading to his eventual guilty pleas in court.
The court was told the matter will return for a long plea hearing, where sentencing submissions will be considered. The judge is expected to examine the seriousness of the offences, the impact on victims, and any mitigating factors raised by the defence before determining a penalty.
Authorities have reiterated that secretly recording someone in private settings without consent is a criminal offence under Queensland law, particularly where intimate or sexual images are involved. Penalties for such offences can include imprisonment and are treated as serious violations of privacy and trust.
The case has drawn attention in the Mackay region due to the offender’s previous involvement in community sport, with court observers noting the breach of trust that comes when individuals in coaching or leadership positions engage in such conduct.
The matter remains before the courts, and no sentence has yet been handed down.
