A Sydney architect who filmed up a teenage girl's skirt has escaped jail, after the court heard he was under stress from political events in his native Sri Lanka at the time.

Sabapathy Chandrahasan, 57, was caught in February this year filming up a girl's skirt at Sydney's Central Railway Station.

Police then searched his home at Earlwood, in the city's inner west, where they uncovered more than 1000 such videos on his computer.

Chandrahasan pleaded guilty to filming up the skirt of a person under 16.

His lawyer argued the offences were relatively minor and said his client suffered from events in Sri Lanka.

He said Chandrahasan has been ostracised by the Sydney Tamil community, of which he was a key figure.

The magistrate took Chandrahasan's previously unblemished record into account and noted his remorse, but said she also needed to deter potential offenders.

Chandrahasan was given a nine-month suspended sentence, which will be followed by a good behaviour bond.

He has also been ordered to receive medical treatment.