THE son of one of Australia's most prominent legal families has been charged with filming up the skirts of students at a private Sydney school.

Robert Emmett is the son of NSW Court of Appeal judge Arthur Emmett and the grandson of former chief justice Sir Laurence Street.



A teacher at St Andrew's Cathedral School in the city, Emmett, 36, of Ashfield has been banned from "loitering" anywhere near where young females congregate or are educated.



Emmett appeared in Central Local Court yesterday on five charges of filming a person's private parts without consent. Police allege he used mobile phones three times to film underwear and body parts of Year 9 students at St Andrews Cathedral School in the city.



Emmett was also charged with filming up a woman's skirt at Town Hall station on Tuesday.



His mother Sylvia is a federal magistrate and daughter of Sir Laurence Street. His two brothers are lawyers.City Rail staff and officers from the Police Transport Command were called after several commuters allegedly witnessed a man filming up the skirt of a woman waiting on the platform at Town Hall Railway Station at about 5.30pm on Tuesday.



They also allege a mobile phone and tablet device were found when the man's backpack was searched.



A review of the contents in the electrical devices allegedly identified several instances of girls and women being recorded inappropriately.



Police opposed bail because of the seriousness of the charges, the ages of the victim and the possibility Emmett could reoffend.



"There is nothing stopping him from getting another mobile phone and engaging in similar activities," Police Persecutor Gabriel Coombes said.She also said there were two witnesses to the allegations.



His solicitor Alexander Street said his client was a father of two and would seek treatment if granted bail.



"He accepts he needs help," Mr Street said.



The accused also said he would reside at his parents' Point Piper home or at a family property near Bowral.



Dr John Collier, the head of St Andrew's Cathedral School, said the school was advised on Tuesday night that "a member of staff has been charged with an offence related to filming girls' legs".



Magistrate Alan Moore granted Emmett bail on a number of conditions, including that he live with at least one parent, surrender all imaging recording devices, not loiter where young females congregate and not go within 50m of the school.



Emmett will appear in the Downing Centre Local court on September 18.

Originally published as Judge's son 'filmed up girls' skirts'