A MAN has been charged after allegedly photographing children at a Cairns swimming carnival.

Concerned parents made a citizen's arrest, detaining the man who is alleged to have trawled swimming carnivals throughout the state, including Cairns.

He has been charged with five counts of recording in breach of privacy, including one in Cairns.

The 36-year-old man, from Townsville, caught the eye of parents when he positioned himself in the marshalling area of a swimming carnival at Thornlands State School, in Redland City.

The man was then charged with three counts of recording in breach of privacy in relation to the Thornlands incident and two others at Alexandra Headland on the Sunshine Coast and Cairns. 

Thornlands Tornadoes coach Bill Corrigall said they observed the man for about half-an-hour before making the arrest.

"When he started to leave, we challenged him," Mr Corrigall said.

"It was a bit tricky. He was going to leave, but we detained him in the cafeteria. He just went along with it."

Detectives allegedly downloaded about 90 images from the camera, mostly of girls aged between 12 and 16.

Full story at the Courier Mail

Share this article