Sydney private school teacher charged with grooming a 14-year-old girl online
Consensus Summary
A 29-year-old Newington College casual teacher named Benjamin David Collinge was arrested on March 28, 2024, in Beecroft after allegedly grooming a 14-year-old girl by posing as a 17-year-old boy on social media. Police allege he pressured the girl to send sexually explicit images in exchange for money and found child abuse material during a search of his home. Collinge, who had a valid Working with Children Check and completed mandatory training, was sacked by Newington College, which confirmed no students were involved. Both sources agree on the charges, arrest details, and the girlâs age, with Collinge remanded in custody without bail until April 2. The case highlights concerns about online grooming and the need for parental awareness, as police urge other potential victims to come forward. SMH provided additional context on the schoolâs tuition fees and former student status of Collinge, while ABC included a specific time for the police raid.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Benjamin David Collinge, a 29-year-old casual music teacher at Newington College, was arrested on March 28, 2024, in Beecroft, Sydneyâs north, for allegedly grooming a 14-year-old girl and accessing child abuse material
- Collinge allegedly posed as a 17-year-old boy on a social media app to contact the vulnerable 14-year-old girl, who was using an app affected by Australiaâs under-16 social media ban
- Collinge offered the girl a ânot significantâ amount of money in exchange for sexually explicit material, with multiple messages exchanged between them
- Police found child abuse material on an electronic device during a search of Collingeâs Beecroft home
- Newington College terminated Collingeâs employment after his arrest, with headmaster Michael Parker confirming no Newington students were involved in the alleged grooming
- Collinge was charged with using a carriage service to groom someone under 16 and using a carriage service to access child abuse material, and was remanded in custody until April 2, 2024, without bail
- Collinge had a valid Working with Children Check and completed mandatory child protection training at Newington College since 2015
- The girlâs parents alerted police after discovering the communications with Collinge on March 27, 2024
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Collinge was a former student at Newington College, graduating in 2014, and the school is transitioning to become fully co-ed by 2033
- Newingtonâs annual tuition ranges from $27,819 (kindergarten) to $48,141 (year 12)
- Detective Acting Superintendent Karl Leis emphasized that police are investigating whether other children may have been targeted by Collinge, encouraging victims to come forward
- Leis stated the offenses are committed in the privacy of someoneâs home, urging parents to monitor their childrenâs online activity
- SMH included contact details for 1800 Respect, CASA, and Kids Helpline for support
- Police descended on Collingeâs Beecroft home at approximately 5:45 AM on the day of his arrest
- ABC included a supplied photo of police at the scene, while SMH did not
- ABC noted Collinge worked in casual roles with the music department at Wyvern House and Lindfield campuses since 2015, without specifying any additional details beyond SMH
- ABCâs headline explicitly states Collinge was a âcasual teacherâ at a âSydney private school,â while SMH specifies Newington College
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH mentions Collinge was a âcasual music teacherâ at Newington College, while ABC does not explicitly state his role beyond âcasual teacherâ at a private school
- No contradictions in core factual claims; both sources align on all verifiable details
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