The Day That Changed Everything
On Tuesday, 11th December 2001, a 15-year-old student unleashed terror at Dover Heights High School in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Anthony Lees, then known only as AL in media reports, stormed into classrooms brandishing a 15cm butcher's knife and held the blade to another boy's throat.
The deranged teenager moved from classroom to classroom while teachers and students fled in panic. Momentarily restrained by a teacher, he broke free and escalated his rampage, picking up a softball bat and chasing children while screaming death threats.
This wasn't an isolated incident for Lees, who had already established a violent behaviour pattern dating back to primary school. He had only started at the 600-student school in October after being expelled from another institution, yet had already accumulated multiple disciplinary incidents.
A Troubled History Comes to School
The day before the knife attack, Lees and another student appeared intoxiced at school, leading teachers to confiscate alcohol. Lees became aggressive, injured himself, and required restraint, prompting police and ambulance attendance. He was taken to hospital, interviewed by officers, and released.
He returned to school the next day despite requests to leave, becoming increasingly aggressive before producing the knife that would trigger the terrifying events.
As Lees ran through the school towards the lower playground, two teachers supervising softball games were forced to flee for their lives over a wire fence. The situation only de-escalated when nearby construction workers intervened, restraining Lees until police arrived.
He was arrested and charged with assault and being armed with intent to cause harm, appearing the next day at Bidura Children's Court where he was remanded in custody until January without entering a plea or seeking bail.
Lasting Consequences and Unexpected Fame
The aftermath of Lees's rampage extended far beyond the immediate trauma. One staff member suffered a hernia while others reported developing PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
The NSW Teachers' Federation successfully sued the Department of Education, winning a record $220,000 settlement that prompted significant policy changes across New South Wales public schools.
In 2006, Justice Tricia Kavanagh awarded the highest-ever penalty for an occupational health and safety breach of its type in a school. The ruling established new requirements for schools to be informed of students' violent histories, psychiatric conditions, or disciplinary records before enrolment.
Lees was sent to Cobham Youth Justice Centre, beginning what would become years of incarceration. During this period, he earned the nickname 'Spanian' due to his dark complexion and Spanish heritage from his father.
In a revealing podcast interview, Spanian admitted he began pulling knives on people aged 10 or 11, stating: 'The first time I stabbed someone in the yard at school I was trying to impress some girls.' He became a heroin addict at 16 and progressed through various criminal activities including theft, drug dealing, and gang membership.
Remarkably, after his final release from Bathurst Correctional Centre in 2017, Spanian transformed into a social media sensation and entrepreneur. His 'Into the Hood' YouTube series gained massive followings, with nearly one million Instagram followers, 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, and 765,000 TikTok followers.
He now runs multiple businesses including Spanian's Kebabs food truck franchises valued at over $2.5 million, drives luxury vehicles, and lives in a $6 million waterfront Barangaroo apartment.
However, his recent transformation - including cosmetic surgery, a new younger girlfriend, and separation from his wife Angela McColl (mother of his five-month-old son) - has left some followers questioning his authenticity.
The story of Anthony Lees represents a complex narrative of violence, reform, and the unpredictable nature of modern fame - all tracing back to that terrifying December day at Dover Heights High School.
