World · East Asia & Pacific · 15 hrs ago
Sydney teacher charged over alleged recordings of female students
A teacher at St Leo’s Catholic College in Sydney has been charged over alleged secret recordings of female students.
Police say devices they examined contained footage of students at the school and child abuse material.
Richard Harman, 61, worked at the school from January 2024, the year police say the alleged offences occurred.
He faces five charges over recording intimate images without consent, as well as charges of producing and possessing child abuse material.
Catholic Schools Broken Bay says his employment has ended and that students, staff and parents have been offered support.
Harman has been refused bail and is due in Hornsby Local Court on November 18.
A Sydney teacher has been charged over alleged secret recordings of female students and alleged child abuse material.
Police charged Richard Harman with five counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent, one count of producing child abuse material and one count of possessing child abuse material.
Police allegedly found footage and child abuse material on electronic devices, including recordings said to have been made at St Leo’s Catholic College.
Harman was refused bail and is due to appear at Hornsby Local Court on November 18.
Catholic Schools Broken Bay said Harman’s employment had ended and that student safety and wellbeing remained its priority.
- Who
- Richard Harman, a 61-year-old teacher at St Leo’s Catholic College.
- What
- He was charged with five counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent and two counts related to child abuse material.
- When
- He was arrested on Thursday; the article was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- St Leo’s Catholic College in Sydney’s Upper North Shore and a home in Hornsby are mentioned.
- Why
- Police allege he recorded intimate images without consent and produced and possessed child abuse material.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Harman began working at St Leo’s Catholic College.
The alleged offences are said to have occurred.
Police visited a home in Hornsby and spoke to Harman after reports that devices there allegedly contained child abuse material.
Harman was arrested after being discharged from hospital and charged at Hornsby Police Station.
Harman is due to appear at Hornsby Local Court.
- Teacher
- Richard Harman, 61
- School
- St Leo’s Catholic College, Wahroonga
- Charges
- Five counts of recording an intimate image without consent; one count each of producing and possessing child abuse material
- Arrest
- Thursday
- Court appearance
- Hornsby Local Court, November 18
What people are saying
This is deeply distressing news, and our main priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our students.
Staff, parents and students have been briefed and offered support.