source : the age
NSW Police have arrested five boys for allegedly throwing eggs at the home of a Scots College student accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Bondi last month.
Police were called to Dover Heights on Saturday after reports of a group of boys throwing eggs at a home and arrested five boys aged between 13 and 17 nearby.
Four of the boys were later released without charge.
A 17-year-old boy was charged with breach of bail and custody of a knife in a public place and will appear before a children’s court on Monday.
Scots College principal Dr Ian Lambert emailed parents on Sunday saying police had made arrests and warning other students against making online threats.
None of the people charged were students or employees at the college.
“Police have advised that a number of young people – none of them Scots students – have been arrested in relation to recent activity directed towards those involved in the matter currently under investigation,” Dr Lambert said in a newsletter to parents.
“Police are also aware of concerning online commentary within the wider community and have asked that young people do not post threats, organise action or otherwise involve themselves.”
Police said further action will be taken if the behaviour continues, the email said.
A member of the Scots community, not authorised to speak publicly, said staff had been emailed over the weekend and advised by the school they will be required to speak to students about the alleged incident.
Scots staff told the Herald they were emailed over the weekend to be prepared to speak to students about the alleged incident and “raise a discussion”, to determine if any of the boys have been emotionally affected by it.
“If they have, they will be invited to have a one-on-one discussion with their tutor to talk more about it,” the person said.
A 13-year-old and a 14-year-old were charged with aggravated sexual assault in the company of others, and two counts of aggravated sexual touching of another person. Another 14-year-old was charged with a single count each of the same offences.
Pressed on Thursday afternoon about the allegations, the school refused to answer questions about the students’ enrolment status, or when it became aware of the alleged incident, citing the ongoing criminal investigation. The school confirmed the alleged attack occurred outside school hours.
The boys, who cannot legally be identified, were granted conditional police bail on Thursday and will appear in a children’s court on August 25.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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