Derek Anthony Grima, 39, of Redan, Ballarat was yesterday charged with allegedly producing intimate images and possessing child abuse material.
Grima, 39, appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon charged with producing intimate images, possessing child abuse material, stalking, and public nuisance offences.
Police told Magistrate Julia Barling that Grima allegedly filmed underneath the skirts of about 150 unidentified girls who appeared to be between the ages of 12 and 15.
Police alleged Grima filmed about 150 victims at various recreational facilities and retail businesses between January 1 and February 7, 2025, before he was arrested and detained.
Informant Detective Senior Constable Jordan Gibson told the court some of the alleged victims were “known to our colleagues … the friends and children of police officers”.
Senior Constable Gibson told the court a witness in the Ballarat Officeworks made a complaint on January 25 after Grima was allegedly seen following young girls around the store for nearly four hours.
Upon Mr Grima’s arrest, police said they found an iPhone application that allows users to take covert images and videos in “stealth mode.”
More than 5,000 photos and videos were allegedly found in his possession, material which was allegedly captured and downloaded.
Police allege the images were captured in dozens of locations including a prominent Ballarat girls’ school, cafes, public pools, retail outlets, in Melbourne Central, and at Mr Grima’s business.
Grima’s phone allegedly contained material taken at the Black Hill and Eureka pools, Kmart, Cotton On at Stocklands Wendouree, multiple Woolworths stores, around Lake Wendouree, at Loreto College, Officeworks, cafes, The Athlete’s Foot, JB Hi-Fi, Platypus, at Bridge Mall, Rebel Sports, Harris Scarfe, Schnitz, Coles, Timezone, Coles, Delacombe Town Centre, Timezone Ballarat, a 10-pin bowling centre, a post office, a petrol station, a Reject Shop, and at Melbourne Central.
He was arrested on February 6 after police were alerted by someone at Officeworks who noticed him allegedly following a 12-year-old around the store and crouching down to take a covert photo of her vagina and anus region once her mother had moved away.
The court heard Mr Grima lives with his mother in the Ballarat suburb of Cardigan and is the director of BeFinancial Accounting & Business Solutions.
The downloaded images allegedly include child exploitation material.
“I am still reviewing the material … [it] left me feeling quite nauseous,” Senior Constable Gibson told the court.
“The sheer volume of victims is unprecedented in nature,” Senior Constable Gibson said.
Grima’s bail application was strongly opposed by police prosecutors.
“There is an undeniable and unprecedented risk towards young females … he has no boundaries or limitations,” Senior Constable Gibson said in court.
Magistrate Julia Barling denied Mr Grima’s bail application.
“You stalked young people in stores,” Ms Barling said.
“Looking at the date … [the children] were probably getting their back-to-school booklist.”
Grima was remanded in custody.
He will reappear in the Ballarat Magistrates Court again in March.
