A former IT employee at a prestigious Sydney girls’ school said he is “ashamed to the core” for possessing child abuse material of girls as young as 10, and felt his name had been “tainted” when his charges were filed. they made public.
Michael Thomas Mowbray was jailed on Wednesday after admitting he possessed 198 images and 103 videos of shocking material depicting girls aged between 10 and 15.
The 33-year-old was working as an IT specialist at North Sydney Girls High School when he was charged in November 2022.
Court documents revealed that he had downloaded three images to his OneDrive account, which was accessible from his school computer.
An administrator found the images and alerted the school principal, who contacted police.
Police found the entire stash of images and videos on encrypted hard drives in Mowbray’s Richmond home, and arrested and charged him days later.
Former North Sydney Girls IT worker Michael Mowbray pleaded guilty to possession of child abuse material
Former North Sydney Girls IT worker Michael Mowbray pleaded guilty to possession of child abuse material
He pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of child abuse material.
Dressed in a blue suit, Mowbray appeared at Manly Local Court on Wednesday, where magistrate Robyn Denes sentenced him to 18 months in prison, with a non-parole period of nine months.
In a letter to the court before his sentencing, Mowbray detailed his horror at his crimes, saying they are his “deepest regret” and will “never be abolished” from his memory.
“I have always wanted to help the underdog to help those in need,” Mowbray wrote.
“I will spend the rest of my life proving to the court and everyone in my life that I am better than this.”
The former IT worker said he was “completely and innately ashamed” to be part of the “world of child abuse material”.
He wrote that he was “blessed” with friends, his partner and his mother who supported him despite the charges.
While he didn’t think anyone would continue talking to him, he said they supported him in a “liberating” way.
‘Constantly staying in touch (verging on incessant), lifting my spirits despite job loss due to news articles, being a shoulder to cry on when I inevitably felt bad, and not judging myself when I reached a point. accordance with the concept of access and possession. said material despite my lack of knowledge,” the letter said.
He wrote that he was “blessed” with friends, his partner and his mother who supported him despite the charges.
The former IT worker wrote about how his partner is “loving, patient and understanding”, and couldn’t believe she wanted to continue the relationship when he was accused.
“Even after the newspaper articles and more than 12 months of court proceedings,” Mowbray wrote in the letter.
“When the first article was published, my old job (at the time it was my dream job) was placed on indefinite unpaid leave from that workplace.”
He said he never thought he would be the “kind of person” who would commit crimes and wrote about how it has helped him understand how to deal with “emotions and stress responses.”
Mowbray wrote that his name was “tainted” after NCA NewsWire first reported on the charges last year.
“This has reduced my job prospects, I have lost five jobs during this period,” he wrote.
“This experience has obviously taken a huge toll on me, anxiety through the roof, but in turn it has made me a better person.”
The court was told on Wednesday that Mowbray had used the search term “teen jailbait” to find the material.
After searching the dark web for the images using the TOR browser, the court was told he uploaded three images to his OneDrive account, which he accessed from his work computer at school.
The former IT worker wrote about how his partner is “loving, patient and understanding”, and couldn’t believe she wanted to continue the relationship when he was accused.
The rest of the 198 images and 103 videos were located on the computer in his room and on a four-terabyte encrypted hard drive.
The court was told Mowbray named one of the files as “collection of extreme teen videos” and another folder as “shy British amateur teens home alone, fuck yay”.
Magistrate Denes said the nature of the material was worrying as it showed girls as young as 10 who “are not easily mistaken for adults”.
Mowbray was captured while working as an IT support specialist for the prestigious school, working in a “help desk” in the library.
The court was told he had a password-protected computer at the school that was accessed by a new administrator on November 22, 2022, who found the folder on the computer in Mowbray’s personal OneDrive account.
The principal was notified and contacted police immediately.
Two days later, a search warrant was carried out at his home, where the rest of the material was found.
Mowbray’s employment at the school ended shortly before his arrest, and a source said staff were asked to hand over their school-issued laptops to the IT department in the following days.
At the time, a Department of Education spokesperson told NCA NewsWire that the safety and wellbeing of students and staff was its top priority.
Magistrate Robyn Denes said the material showed “very clearly vulnerable children”.
Magistrate Robyn Denes said the material showed “very clearly vulnerable children”.
She said it was clear Mowbray knew what he was doing because he was accessing the dark web, which she said is an “indication” that it is something that “will not be easily accepted in the community.”
“He clearly wanted a particular type of image,” the magistrate said.
‘I accept it wasn’t entirely sophisticated… some of it was on OneDrive… most of the material was encrypted, there is a level of sophistication.
“Possession of child pornography is a callous and predatory crime.”
The magistrate also noted that the crime is not victimless as it creates a market for the continued exploitation and abuse of children.
Ms. Denes said that once the images are online, “they are there forever.”
“These children will never be able to escape these images…imagine going through life knowing…that your children may encounter these images of you as a child,” he told the court.
“It’s horrendous… it’s not without its victims.”
Mowbray’s defense lawyer, George Costantine, told the court his client had sought psychological treatment shortly after his arrest and had since had 17 sessions.
Costantine argued it was best to keep his client in the community so he could continue his treatment.
Their next session was supposed to be Friday.
Costantine argued it was best to keep his client in the community so he could continue his treatment.
“This is not a typical case of someone who has gone through two or three consultations and then started treatment,” he argued.
“This is someone who, after arrest and release on bail, is in treatment and so on until sentencing.”
Mowbray sat in the public gallery holding a book and chewing gum as the magistrate told the court his crimes were so serious he had no alternative to a prison sentence.
He did not react when Mrs Denes sentenced him to 18 months behind bars for the protection of the community and children.
She gave him a nine-month non-parole period, meaning he will be eligible for parole on November 20.
Sheriff’s deputies led Mowbray out of the courthouse and into the cells.
The magistrate also ordered the destruction of the devices with the material.
The lawyer told Magistrate Robert Williams he was confident his client would see “possible” success on appeal.
Costantine quickly filed an appeal and requested bail before another magistrate on Wednesday afternoon.
The lawyer told Magistrate Robert Williams he was confident his client would see “possible” success on appeal.
“I say that any district judge can come to a different opinion regarding the exercise of the sentence in relation to his prospects for rehabilitation and delinquency,” he argued.
He told the court his client had a supportive partner in the community and a job.
“His Honor would find that he could comply with bail and bail could be granted,” Mr Costantine said.
After evaluating all the information, Mr. Williams discovered that there was no alternative to a full-time prison sentence.
He rejected the bail application.
The appeal will be heard in the District Court in April.
