Three teenage boys, including two from a private school in Sydney's south-west, have been charged over the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl on Saturday.
New South Wales police said three 17-year-old boys were arrested on Wednesday after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly attacked at a home in Sydney's south-west.
New South Wales police searched several homes in the Macarthur region and seized electronic devices as part of their investigation, they said in a statement on Thursday.
Charges and Court Appearance
One of the boys has been charged with 11 offences, including six counts of aggravated sexual assault in company with others and three counts of rape, police said. Another was charged with six counts of sexual assault in company with others, rape and common assault.
The third boy was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company with others.
They were all refused bail to appear before children's court on Thursday.
School's Response
St Gregory's college, a private school in Campbelltown, shared a letter with the school community on Wednesday, expressing its “deep concern for the young woman police have said was the victim of the alleged sexual assault, and her family and loved ones”.
“As this is an ongoing criminal investigation and before the courts, it is important that we do and say nothing that could compromise those independent processes,” the school said. “Sexual violence has no place in our community, and the College stands with all victims of sexual violence. It is abhorrent what is alleged by Police and is the antithesis of what we stand for and the values that we embrace.”
The school said the allegations were very serious and the judicial process “must now be allowed to take its course free of any commentary”. Officials said they have and will continue to cooperate “fully” with the police.
“We ask everyone to avoid speculation or sharing of information that could impact the parties involved or the independent process now underway.”
Recent Similar Incident
The alleged incident comes after another unrelated one in Sydney in recent days. Last week, NSW police charged three students from Sydney's Scots college in relation to the alleged assault of a teenage girl.
Police launched an investigation after reports that a 14-year-old girl had been assaulted in an alleyway in Sydney's eastern suburbs in July. All three boys were arrested on aggravated sexual assault charges and taken into custody before appearances before children's court later this month.
Support for anyone affected by the subject matter of this report is available at Full Stop Australia (1800 385 578)
