Newington College: Star athlete at exclusive private high school charged over filming another boy in the shower and posting it online
A 12th-grade athlete at an exclusive private school has pleaded guilty to filming a young boy in the showers and sharing the video without the victim’s knowledge.
Police arrested the 18-year-old boy last Thursday night after dramatic scenes on the campus of Newington College in Stanmore, western Sydney.
The school reportedly called police after learning the student, from central-western New South Wales, had inappropriate videos on his phone.
It is believed the teenager filmed a boy without clothes and then sent the video to several people on social media.
The talented athlete attended college as a boarder on a sports scholarship.
The arrest forced the boy to withdraw from a long-awaited sports appointment last weekend, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The teenager appeared in Newtown District Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to distributing child abuse material.
Judge Michael O’Brien sentenced the boy to 18 months conditional discharge and said no conviction would be recorded.
A star athlete from a prestigious private school has pleaded guilty to charges of filming a young boy in the showers and sharing the video without the victim’s knowledge
A no-force order has also been issued against him to protect the victim.
Deputy Principal Andy Quinane informed the boarding community about last Friday’s incident in a letter.
“The college has worked closely with families, staff and police in response to an incident involving three friends… earlier this week. All boys are safe and protecting their welfare is our priority as we move forward,” the letter read.
It is known that the 18-year-old is no longer attending boarding school, but is still enrolled as a day pupil.
The year 12 boy was on a sports scholarship to boarding school at Newington College in central Sydney
The case comes after two students were expelled from Newington College after they were allegedly caught in possession of drugs during a school camp.
A spokesman for Newington College, a leading private boys’ school in western Sydney, said two students were in possession of a “THC-based product”.
βThe school launched a thorough investigation at the end of last semester and this investigation will continue when students return to school for the second semester,β the spokesperson said.