- Ben Collinge, 29, arrested at a property in Beecroft
- Allegedly groomed a girl, 14, on social media
- Allegedly offered money in exchange for sexual material
- Do you know more? Email charlotte.karp@dailymail.com.au
A music teacher from Sydney’s Newington College has been charged after allegedly offering to pay a teenage girl for sexual material.
Benjamin David Collinge, 29, was arrested at 5.45am on Thursday after police raided his mother’s home in Beecroft, in the city’s north-west.
The arrest came just eight days after the sex crimes squad received a report about a man who allegedly tried to encourage a girl, 14, to send sexual material in exchange for money.
Following investigations by Strike Force Trawler, the Beecroft property was raided and Collinge was taken to Gladesville Police Station.
He was charged with using a carriage service to groom a child under 16 for sex, and using a carriage service to access child abuse material.
Footage showed Collinge being escorted out of the $2million home wearing a $190 Palace Caveman shirt.
Newington College is a Pre-K to Year 12 boarding school with campuses in Stanmore, Eungai Creek, and Lindfield, with annual fees hitting more than $48,000.
Collinge graduated from Newington College in 2014 and went on to become a music teacher at the same institution.

Benjamin David Collinge, 29, was arrested on Thursday morning and charged with child grooming offences

Footage showed Collinge being escorted from his mother’s house in Beecroft

Collinge graduated from Newington College and later became a music teacher at the school
He was thanked in a 2025 school newsletter for assisting with a concert at the primary school campus.
Collinge was refused bail to appear in Burwood Local Court on Thursday.


