Exclusive Sydney school in child porn scandal

A star athlete at one of Sydney’s most exclusive schools has pleaded guilty to filming a boy in a shower and sharing the videos, after he was dramatically arrested on campus last week.

The Year 12 student is still studying at the school but is now a day student.

A star athlete at one of Sydney’s most exclusive schools has pleaded guilty to filming a boy in a shower and sharing the videos, after he was dramatically arrested on campus last week.

Newington College called in police on Thursday when they discovered a Year 12 student, 18, had inappropriate videos on his phone involving a younger boy.

The Daily Telegraph has been told the student, a boarder at the school on a sporting scholarship, filmed a boy, who was unaware, and then sent the video to multiple people on social media.

The talented sportsman, from the state’s central west, was charged that night with distributing child abuse material.

An Apprehended Violence Order was also taken out against him to protect the victim who was filmed.

The Newington School Year 12 student.

He pleaded guilty to distributing child abuse material. Picture: Facebook

“About 6.30pm on Thursday 15 August 2024, detectives attached to Inner West Police Area Command, were called to a school on Stanmore Road, Stanmore, following reports of a video in circulation,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“An 18-year-old man was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with disseminate child abuse material.”

The student was named to compete in Year 12 school sport on Saturday but sent a text message to classmates that morning saying he wouldn’t make it.

“They (teammates) all got a text saying something like “Can’t play boys, sorry to let you all down”,” a source familiar with the matter said.

The 18-year-old pleaded guilty in Newtown Local Court on Monday to disseminating child abuse material.

Magistrate Michael O’Brien sentenced him to an 18-month Conditional Release Order and said no conviction would be recorded.

Until The Daily Telegraph contacted the school at lunchtime on Wednesday, only the boarding community had been informed of the matter.

Although the student is 18 and can be legally named because he is an adult, the school requested he is not identified due to mental health concerns.

The Telegraph has chosen not to identify the student due to those concerns.

The college has faced many challenges since its decision to go co-ed from 2028.

It is understood the 18-year-old is no longer a boarder at the school but is continuing his studies as a day student, in light of the criminal charge.

A spokesperson for Newington said the boarding school community was informed of the incident on Friday morning in a letter from deputy headmaster Andy Quinane.

“The College has worked closely with families, staff and police overnight in response to an incident amongst three friends...earlier in the week. All boys are safe, and the protection of their welfare is our priority as we move forwards,” the letter said.

The school continues to be plagued by controversy after its decision to go co-ed and begin accepting female students from 2028.

It also faced criticism last month for deleting social media posts which were against the school’s decision to join the Independent Sporting Association after decades of being a member of the prestigious Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools (AAGPS) sporting body.

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