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Sydney Teacher, 29, Charged Over Alleged Online Grooming of 14-Year-Old

Police say he posed as a 17-year-old on social media to seek paid explicit images from a girl.

Overview

  • Benjamin David Collinge, arrested Thursday in Beecroft, was charged with grooming a minor and accessing child exploitation material, denied bail, and is due back in court in April.
  • A report from the girl’s parents on March 18 led specialist NSW Police in Strike Force Trawler to open the case and begin searching for any other victims.
  • Investigators say the 29-year-old claimed to be 17 during online chats and pressured the 14-year-old to send sexual images for money.
  • Police seized multiple electronic devices from his home and say forensic checks found illicit content.
  • Newington College fired the casual staff member and told families that no students from the school have been identified in the case.