Ex-policeman jailed over producing child abuse material that caused ‘immeasurable damage’ to victims

A former police prosecutor who secretly filmed a 13-year-old girl and a woman undressing and distributed the videos of the woman to other men will spend a minimum of two years behind bars.

His victims, whose identities have been suppressed, hugged their loved ones in court after Simon Luebbers, 44, was handcuffed and led away from the room, which was packed with supporters of the victims.

Former police prosecutor Simon Luebbers arrives at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.Credit:Wayne Taylor

During sentencing, Magistrate Luisa Bazzani described Luebbers’ crimes against the teenage girl as heinous and selfish.

“It served no purpose other than for your own greedy desire for sexual gratification at the cost of a child’s happiness and safe development,” she said.

“You have caused this child immeasurable damage and for that, you need to be punished.”

The former policeman admitted to covertly filming the woman on seven occasions over a five-year period, hiding recording devices in two locations where she showered.

He also admitted to secretly recording the girl and producing three videos that he stored on a secure app on his mobile phone.

Bazzani said the crimes against the woman, which began in 2005, had been “breathtakingly deceitful, planned and devastating”, violating the sanctity of her own home.

“You are right to feel shame and disgust,” she said.

Luebbers pleaded guilty to five charges, including producing and possessing child abuse material and stalking, during a lengthy hearing on Wednesday.

During the same hearing, both victims described the devastating effects the crimes had on their lives, with the woman telling the court her life had been “irreversibly shattered” by the events.

She told the court she struggled to shower in her own home and no longer felt safe. “The overwhelming feeling of betrayal just won’t stop,” she said.

Struggling to fight back tears inside the courtroom, the teenager said she could no longer get through a school day without having flashbacks and had self-harmed.

Luebbers’ lawyer, Tom Acutt, argued for a short prison term with a community corrections order, saying his client was “racked with guilt” after realising the “vast and devastating impact” he had on his victims.

He told the court that Luebbers had unsuccessfully attempted suicide when the allegations initially surfaced and had made arrangements for his death benefits to be given to the teenage victim’s family before the attempt.

Police arrested Luebbers on March 3 at an IGA supermarket in Cremorne.Credit:Nine News

“He is diagnosed with major depressive disorder and that will only get worse in custody,” he told the court. “My submission is that he is at low risk of reoffending and there is a sexual disorder that needs treatment to be diagnosed.”

The court heard that Luebbers had worked for Victoria Police for two decades and was a police prosecutor when he committed the crimes. In recent years, he had moved into a management role training police prosecutors within the force, helping certify about150 people.

Luebbers’ parents and siblings have supported him throughout the proceedings. Outside the court on Thursday, his father called reporters “maggots” and said he remained proud of his son.

Bazzani accepted Luebbers had shown signs of remorse since his arrest, but she said the 44-year-old had breached the community’s trust while working as a prosecutor.

“While you purported to be fulfilling obligations to uphold and protect the community, you were committing instead vile criminal acts,” she said, adding that it was a “sad irony”.

She sentenced Luebbers to serve three years in jail. He will become eligible for parole after serving two years of his sentence and will be placed on Victoria’s sex offender list for 15 years.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a personal crisis, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au.

The Morning Edition newsetter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.

Most Viewed in National

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article