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A former casual teacher at an elite Sydney school accused of trying to get a teenage girl to send him sexual content in exchange for money will trade a jail cell for house arrest after he was granted bail.
Benjamin Collinge, a casual music teacher at the prestigious Newington College in Sydney’s inner-west, has been accused of grooming a 14-year-old girl online.
Police received a report that a 14-year-old girl had been talking with a man on social media who allegedly tried to encourage her to send sexually explicit content in exchange for money.
Mr Collinge, 29, was arrested at a Beecroft address in Sydney’s north on March 26.
Mr Collinge has not yet entered pleas to charges of using a carriage service to groom someone under 16 years, using a carriage service to access child abuse material, and filming a person’s private parts without consent.
The teacher has remained behind bars on remand ever since his arrest but will soon get his first breath of fresh air in more than a month after he was granted bail in the Burwood Local Court on Wednesday.
However he will be barred from leaving his home as per his house arrest bail conditions, meaning he will essentially only be allowed out of the house to report to police daily or for court or medical purposes.
Mr Collinge had to front $20,000 as a prerelease condition, with an acceptable person to also put up $100,000 on his behalf following his release from custody, which will be forfeited should Mr Collinge breach his bail conditions.
He has also been prohibited from using the internet or encrypted apps, having a smartphone, and must abstain from alcohol and drugs.
Mr Collinge is also banned from approaching or contacting witnesses.
He will next front court on June 3 via an audiovisual link.
It is understood Newington College headmaster Michael Parker previously has told parents Mr Collinge is no longer employed at the school.
Mr Parker added that police informed them no students at the school have been identified as being involved.
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