A former IT worker at a prestigious Sydney girls’ school said he was “ashamed to his core” for possessing child pornography material of 10-year-old girls, and felt his name had been “tainted” when his allegations were made public.
Michael Thomas Mowbray was jailed on Wednesday after admitting possessing 198 images and 103 videos of disturbing material featuring 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 downloaded three images to his OneDrive account, which was accessible on 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 at Mowbray’s Richmond home, and arrested him several days later.
Former North Sydney Girls IT worker Michael Mowbray has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornographic material
Former North Sydney Girls IT worker Michael Mowbray has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornographic material
He pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of child pornography.
Dressed in a blue suit, Mowbray stood before 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 ahead of his sentencing, Mowbray described his horror at his crimes, saying they are his “deepest regrets” and will “never be erased from his memory.”
“I’ve always just wanted to help the underdog to help those in need,” Mowbray wrote.
“I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving to the court and everyone in my life that I’m better than this.”
The former IT worker said he was “completely, inherently ashamed” of being part of the “world of child pornography.”
He wrote that he was “blessed” to have friends, his partner and mother who stood by him despite the allegations.
Although he didn’t believe anyone would continue to talk to him, he said they supported him in “liberating” ways.
‘Constantly checking in (constantly at the border), cheering up despite job loss due to news articles, being a shoulder to cry on when I inevitably felt badly affected – and not judging me when I came to terms with the concept of entry getting to and possessing said material despite my lack of awareness,” the letter said.
He wrote that he was “blessed” to have friends, his partner and mother who stood by him despite the allegations
The former IT worker wrote that his partner is “caring, patient and understanding,” and he couldn’t believe she wanted to continue the relationship when he was charged.
“Even after the news articles and over 12 months of legal proceedings,” Mowbray wrote in the letter.
“When the first article appeared, my ex-employee (my dream job at the time) was placed on indefinite unpaid leave from that workplace.”
He said he never thought he would be the “kind of person” who committed crimes, writing that it has helped him understand how to deal with “emotions and responses to stress.”
Mowbray wrote that his name was “tainted” after NCA NewsWire first reported the charges last year.
‘As such it has reduced my chances of getting a job. I have lost five jobs during this time,” he wrote.
‘This experience has clearly taken a huge toll on me, the anxiety was killing me, but in turn it has actually 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 for the images on the dark web using the TOR browser, the court was told he then uploaded three images to his OneDrive account, which he accessed on his work computer at school.
The former IT worker wrote that his partner is “caring, patient and understanding,” and he couldn’t believe she wanted to continue the relationship when he was charged
The rest of the 198 images and 103 videos were located on his bedroom computer and on an encrypted four-terabyte hard drive.
The court was told Mowbray called one of the files ‘extreme teenie video collection’ and another folder ‘shy British amateur teens at home alone f**k yay’.
Magistrate Denes said the nature of the material was concerning as it depicted girls as young as ten who are ‘not easily mistaken for adults’.
Mowbray was caught working as an IT support specialist for the prestigious school, from a ‘helpdesk office’ in the library.
The court was told he had a password-protected computer at the school that was accessed on November 22, 2022, by a new administrator, who found the folder on the computer in Mowbray’s personal OneDrive account.
The director was alerted and immediately informed the police.
Two days later, a search was conducted at his home, where the rest of the material was found.
Mowbray’s employment at the school ended shortly before his arrest, with a source saying staff were asked to hand in their school-issued laptops to the IT department in the following days.
At the time, a spokesperson for the Department of Education told NCA NewsWire that the safety and wellbeing of students and staff was the top priority.
Magistrate Robyn Denes said the material ‘very clearly depicted vulnerable children’
Magistrate Robyn Denes said the material ‘very clearly depicted vulnerable children’.
She said it was clear Mowbray knew what he was doing because he had access to 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 certain kind of image,” the magistrate said.
‘I admit it wasn’t completely sophisticated… some of it was on OneDrive… most of the material was encrypted, there’s a degree 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 once the images are online they are ‘there forever’.
“These children can never escape these images… imagine going through life knowing… that your children are encountering these images of you as a child,” she told the court.
“It’s terrible… it’s not victimless.”
Mowbray’s lawyer George Costantine told the court his client had sought psychological treatment shortly after his arrest and had since had 17 court appearances.
Mr Costantine argued that his client would be better off being kept in the community so he could continue his treatment
His next session would be Friday.
Mr Costantine argued that his client would be better off being kept in the community so he could continue his treatment.
“This is not common when you come across someone who has had two to three consultations and then started treatment,” he argued.
“This is someone who, after being arrested and released on bail, is undergoing treatment and will remain there until his sentencing.”
Mowbray sat in the public gallery with a book and some chewing gum in his hand as the magistrate told the court his crimes were so serious there was no alternative to a prison sentence.
He did not respond when Ms Denes sentenced him to 18 months in prison 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.
Mowbray was walked out of the courthouse by sheriff’s officers and taken to the cells.
The magistrate also ordered that the devices containing the material be destroyed.
The lawyer told Magistrate Robert Williams he was confident his client would see ‘possible’ success in the appeal
Mr Costantine quickly appealed and applied to another magistrate for bail on Wednesday afternoon.
The barrister told Magistrate Robert Williams he was confident his client would see ‘possible’ success in the appeal.
“I am saying that each judge of the court can come to a different view regarding the administration of sentence in relation to his prospects for rehabilitation and criminal offences,” he argued.
He told the court his client had a supportive partner in the community and a job.
“Your Honor would find that he could comply with the bail requirement and that bail could be granted,” Mr Costantine said.
After assessing all the information, Mr Williams concluded that there was no other alternative to a full prison sentence.
He rejected the bail application.
The appeal will be heard in court in April.