HE IS, arguably, one of the region’s most hated men.
A self-confessed “pervert”, Andrew Mynett was the man at the centre of the Waroona public toilets hidden camera scandal.
Convicted in October last year of charges in relation to placing the cameras in the women’s toilets on the Forrest Highway rest-stop, Mynett was sentenced to one year in prison.
Now out on parole, the 46-year-old former Meadow Springs resident says he is sorry.
In a letter addressed to the Mandurah Mail, Mynett asked for the opportunity to apologise to the public for his actions. Subsequent conversations cemented his resolve to say sorry.
“I would like to deeply apologise to the community for this heinous crime,” he said.
“Intensive psychotherapy has identified mitigating factors, however I am fully responsible for what I did and blaming historical issues is unacceptable.”
Two cameras installed by Mynett were found by a cleaner on April 6.
The cameras had recorded close to 10 hours’ worth of footage showing women and children using the public toilets.
Mynett said while he understood nothing would make up for what he did to up to 90 women and children recorded by his devices, he hoped it helped that he had never done anything similar and never would again.
“It was out of character,” he said. “I am a human and have made many mistakes.
“This particular mistake has been catastrophic to the people close to me.”
Mynette said his biggest personal struggle was that he offended against children, with these images referred to as ‘by-catch’ in Perth District Court during sentencing.
Following his arrest, police scoured Mynett’s personal computers and storage devices.
No evidence of child exploitation material was found.
I would rather go to jail than be considered a paedophile.
- Andrew Mynett
“I said to a loved one shortly after being charged. ‘I would rather go to jail than be considered a paedophile’,” Mynett said.
“I got my wish, as that is what the judge conceded.
“This [the filming of children] will burn deep into my soul every day until the day I die.”
As a result of his convictions, Mynett is now under strict reporting obligations. He is banned from owning pornography, and is not allowed unsupervised access to children.
It’s a heavy cross to bear for the man who asserts he has no sexual interest in children.
But it’s one he said he deserved.
Since his conviction, a son who had been in Mynett’s care has returned to his mother’s residence in the eastern states.
Mynett thanked family members and close friends who had stood by him during what he described as a “salacious event”.
“I have many loved ones who have been amazing,” he said. “They, like most, were absolutely disgusted, but their support never waivered.
“They too are victims, and the sacrifices they have made and the love they have given has been extremely humbling.”
The first to admit he would want to see justice served on anyone who committed a crime such as his, Mynett was realistic about the response he expected from the public.
“I am more than happy to be judged by the community,” he said.
“The public perception of me can’t get any lower.
“I am not a bad person; I just did a f***ed up thing.”
Related: MAN JAILED FOR INDECENT OF CHILDREN
