Penrith brawl: Schoolgirl, 15, arrested by police after fighting over mobile phone

This is the moment a handcuffed 15-year-old is bundled into a police wagon at a school in Western Sydney after she allegedly assaulted another female pupil in an argument over an image on a phone.

The 15-year-old girl is led from the grounds of the school. Picture: Justin Sanson

A SCHOOLYARD scrap between two teenage girls over a mobile phone video ended with dramatic scenes of a 15-year-old being cuffed and hauled away in a police van at a Western Sydney school.

The diminutive 15-year-old girl was surrounded by at least three police officers and led into the van with her hands behind her back at the public high school yesterday, allegedly because she told officers she was going to run away.

Officers said they cuffed the girl because she said she was going to “take off”. Picture: Justin Sanson

The student, understood to be a 15-year-old is led into a waiting police paddy wagon. Picture: Justin Sanson

Police were called to the school after the arrested teen had allegedly stormed into a classroom around midday and ripped off the headscarf of another 15-year-old student before pulling her hair. It is claimed the victim had been showing a mobile video involving her alleged attacker to colleagues throughout the day.

Officers defended their heavy-handed tactics saying the girl was handcuffed because she told officers she was “going to take off” from the Emu Plains school.

The arrested girl was taken to Penrith Police Station and later released.

Police said she would be issued with a caution for assault under the Youth Offenders Act.

The alleged victim became hysterical during the incident, causing her to hyperventilate and faint.

The alleged victim of the attack became hysterical and had to be treated by paramedics. Picture: Justin Sanson.

She was treated outside the school by paramedics but was not taken to hospital from the school. She was eventually taken home by her father. She then attended hospital with her family.

Police would not comment on the alleged attack but a source in the school said it was sparked by one girl showing other students the video throughout the morning. Officers would only say the attack was not racially motivated.

“It appears the students were involved in a disagreement over an image on one of their phones which led to a scuffle,” a police spokesman said yesterday.

A second girl is taken from the school in an ambulance. Picture: Justin Sanson

“She is believed to have assaulted another female student. One of the girls had to be treated at the scene for hyperventilation but did not need to be transported to hospital. One student was taken to Penrith Police Station and was cautioned. She has been spoken to by police and will be given a youth caution in relation to an alleged assault. No charges have been laid.”

A NSW Department of Education spokesman said “there’s a police investigation into that (incident)” and they were “not in a position to comment”.

“Physical violence is not tolerated at public schools and schools take appropriate action,” he said.

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