The voyeuristic crimes of Apostolos Kipouros, 19, were discovered by women at Woden Westfield shopping centre earlier this year.

One was on the toilet, and noticed a mirror and phone coming from under the cubicle wall.

She screamed and ran off, and another woman also ran out of a different cubicle.

Security were called and Kipouros was found still in the cubicle between where the two women had been.

He had a black hood pulled over his head and a phone and tablet with him.

Kipouros was interviewed by police and later admitted to filming the women; something he said he'd done to impress his friends.

He said he'd filmed women in his homeland of Greece before coming to Australia.

Police examined his phone and discovered more videos, including some taken of women's groin areas under a desk at a public library.

The conduct was described by prosecutor Phoebe Burgoyne-Scutts as "alarming behaviour to say the least".

"The victims should be able to expect their privacy is preserved, particularly when going to a public toilet," she said.

Kipouros faced the ACT Magistrates Court for sentencing on Wednesday, before Magistrate Peter Morrison.

His lawyer Paul Edmonds said his client understood the seriousness of the crimes and recognised he needed counselling.

"The defendant well and truly understands ... the gross breach of privacy involved in these offences and the feeling of violation that must have been expressed by the victims," he said.

Mr Edmonds said he'd urged Kipouros to talk to his sisters to help understand how they'd feel about being victim to such behaviour.

He said the teenager had no criminal history, a supportive family, was studying, working and had no drug, alcohol, or mental health issues.

Mr Morrison sentenced Kipouros to 250 hours' community service and a two-year good behaviour order.

He said it had been a "line ball sort of call" as to whether a sentence of imprisonment should be imposed, warning that another magistrate may make a different decision if he came back before the court.