A young Warwick woman made a horrific discovery that her housemate had been filming her most private moments for more than a year with hidden cameras in her bedroom and toilet. SEE THE VIDEO
Angus William Gale busted adjusting a camera he used to obsessively monitor and spy on a housemate.
The Warwick Magistrates Court was told how Gale, the 21-year-old son of a Southern Downs Regional councillor, took photos, video and constantly monitored the young woman while she changed, slept, went to the toilet and showered.
The court was told that between January 2021 and September 2022, Gale would enter the flatmate’s bedroom and the bathroom to position the cameras before returning to his bedroom to monitor the footage.
Angus William Gale leaving Warwick Magistrates Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to observing or recording in breach of privacy.
The victim first discovered Gale’s sickening surveillance on November 15, 2021 when she noticed a small black box camera angled towards her bed while cleaning her room.
When she retrieved the SD card from the camera and plugged it in to her laptop, she uncovered 15 video files and images of herself walking around the room and getting changed.
In one of the videos, Gale could be seen setting up the camera and leaving the room before returning to adjust the camera angle.
Horrifyingly, Gale was watching when the victim discovered the hidden camera.
While copying the videos onto her own computer as evidence Gale sent her a Snapchat message asking if she had seen his camera, and claimed his brother must have plugged it into charge in the wrong room.
A screengrab from a video showing Angus William Gale adjusting a camera he used to spy on his housemate.
Gale’s offending continued for another 10 months until September 2022 when the woman came back from a shower and noticed a strange gap in her blinds, upon investigating she found an iPhone recording video, including footage of her walking in a towel.
Police were alerted and Gale was arrested and charged.
Gale’s defence lawyer Bonnie O’Brien told the court he was the sole income earner for his young family and had “struggled with mental health issues”.
“He has taken proactive steps, including a mental health care plan, seeing a psychologist and is on medication, “ she said.
Gale pleaded guilty to observations or recording in breach of privacy in Warwick Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 8.
Angus William Gale in 2021 (Photo: File)
Magistrate Andrew Cridland said Gale was actively “monitoring” the woman and the offending was simply “not appropriate”.
“You were monitoring, you weren’t just placing the camera you were actively monitoring,” magistrate Cridland told Gale.
“Your age is a benefit which I must take into account, had you been of a much older age, this would have been a matter where imprisonment of some form would have been considered.”
“It’s not appropriate, one can only imagine the impact this would have on the victim would be severe”.
Gale was sentenced to 18 months release under supervision, required to report in person to a parole officer and attend counselling.
No convictions were recorded.
“You ruined my baby’s life”
The mother of the victim outside court spoke to the publication and described how Gale’s sickening surveillance of their daughter between January 2021 and September 2022 had ruined the woman’s life.
The family members said they noticed the victim wasn’t quite herself, and her body was taking the toll of the stress from Gale’s disturbing behaviour.
“We knew something was wrong, she was a mess, completely beside herself and didn’t tell us and had to put it up for months before going to police,” one woman said.
“It was grubby, heartbreaking and disgusting, we had been watching her for months fade away, she just didn’t look right – she was terrified in her own home – and it was taking on a toll on her physically and mentally, she looked like she was getting thinner and thinner.”
Regarding the verdict on Thursday, one of the women said it was “weak”, with another commenting “it isn’t a deterrent and what will encourage any young person to come out and come forward”.
“She has gone through months of hell, he traumatised my baby.”