Nathaniel Ifopo: Westfields Sports High accused vandal fronts court
An aspiring NRL player is one of a group accused of going on a destructive $40,000 rampage at the famed sports high school, allegedly spray painting walls and smashing property.
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An aspiring NRL player has appeared before court following allegations of vandalism at a school in western Sydney.
Accompanied by his mother, 18-year-old Nathaniel Ifopo, who played SG Ball for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2019, appeared visibly nervous as he made his first appearance at Fairfield Local Court for charges of break and enter, malicious damage, stealing and graffiti.
Police will allege Ifopo participated in a destructive rampage at Westfields Sports High School in late September - damaging classrooms, spraypainting walls, and smashing property with up to seven other people.
Initial estimates place the extent of the damage being between $40,000 to $50,000.
Officers attached to Fairfield Police attended the scene on the night and with assistance from PolAir, arrested two 17-year-olds hiding in a park on nearby Sadlier Crescent.
The teenagers were then taken to Fairfield Police Station where they were charged with aggravated break and enter, malicious damage, stealing and graffiti.
Attending the specialist sports school in Sydney’s Fairfield West the following day, officers arrested a further two students, also both 17.
A short time later, a fifth 17-year-old was arrested after handing himself into Fairfield Police Station.
Granted conditional bail, the teenagers will reappear in a children’s court on Monday November 2, 2020.
Ifopo was arrested in Casula days later and his matter was adjourned. He is due to appear in Fairfield Local Court on December 7.
Two men still remain outstanding. Police investigations are ongoing.