NT ex-professor Michael Lawes fined $7,700 over secret shower video of student

Updated August 15, 2017 17:43:38

A former Charles Darwin University (CDU) wildlife science professor has been fined $7,700 for secretly filming one of his students naked in the shower.

Michael John Lawes, 54, pleaded guilty to installing, using and maintaining an optical surveillance device.

The student was having a shower when she noticed a small camera hidden in a smoke alarm while she was staying in his granny flat doing research in February.

"The offender used technology to invade the victim's privacy," Judge Greg Macdonald said in the Darwin Local Court.

Premeditation, planning and breaches of trust

Judge Macdonald said the crime involved premeditation, planning and breaches of trust.

"He was the victim's supervisor in her PhD, her mentor and teacher," Judge Macdonald said.

"The offending did entail a sexual component, self-gratification and an element of voyeurism."

Outside court, the victim's friends, some of whom were Lawes' students, said they were disappointed with the penalty.

"It just seems a bit disproportionate considering an actual campaign at the moment to really increase equality between sexes in universities in particular," said friend and CDU student Stewart Pittard.

"It's not really the message that you want to send to everybody, especially considering what a high-ranking man in a high academic position he is."

Lawes also received a 12-month good behaviour bond of $1,500.

Professor's 'personal and professional reputation in tatters'

His lawyer had previously applied for Lawes to not have a conviction recorded, but Judge Macdonald rejected that request.

"I think we're a little bit put out, but we're glad that it's a criminal conviction, you would expect and hope that a larger message would be sent," Mr Pittard said.

"There's obviously circumstances surrounding the case that has resulted in this outcome, but just on that principle it would have been nice to see a bigger deterrent in place."

However, Judge MacDonald said Lawes was unlikely to reoffend and praised his decision to plead guilty at the earliest opportunity.

"His personal and professional reputation are in tatters," he said.

university student who was secretly filmed while in the shower by a former Charles Darwin University professor." title="Friends of university victim secretly filmed by CDU professor" width="700" height="467" /> Photo: Friends of a university student who was secretly filmed while in the shower gathered outside court. (ABC News: Avani Dias)

"He's unlikely to secure any further employment in academia ... I've received nine references which say the offender is a kind and good person.

"They defined the contributions he's made to academia, students and the community," Judge Macdonald said.

Friends of the victim attended the court hearing.

Lawes at 'low point in life'

The court heard Lawes was acting during a particularly low point in his life.

"It was a particularly low point physiologically and psychologically," Judge MacDonald said.

"He was in an altered state due to depression."

Lawes resigned from his job at Charles Darwin University and the court heard he would also leave Darwin.

"He is embarrassed and ashamed of his actions and remorseful of what he's done," Judge MacDonald said.

Lawes was facing a maximum penalty of two years in jail or a fine of more than $37,000.

"It's good to be over, it's good to get it out of the way so people can move on," Mr Pittard said.

Victim concerned similar crimes could occur

In a statement, the victim's lawyer said his client was concerned a similar crime could occur.

"My client's serious concern is that a similar act could be repeated in the future to students of Mr Lawes or to other students of CDU," Cliff Savala said.

He said CDU had a duty of care to its students, both in relation to the actions of staff, and in relation to accommodation provided for students.

"CDU should have had in place appropriate policies and procedures to prevent such an act being performed by a professor on a student under his supervision, and also in accommodation provided to the student by a professor," Mr Savala said.

CDU has told the ABC the accommodation was not university sanctioned, but rather a private arrangement and the university’s accommodation policy pertains only to its accommodation facility, International House Darwin.

Topics: law-crime-and-justice, charles-darwin-university-0909, darwin-0800

First posted August 15, 2017 10:42:29