EXCLUSIVE

A 15-year-old boy said to have a “disturbing infatuation” with sexual violence has been accused of sexually assaulting another male student, raising questions about why he was allowed to attend a special needs school.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal alarming claims about child protection failures by the NSW Department of Education after Jacob* was accused of sexually assaulting another Year 9 boy, Tom*, between July and September last year.

NSW Police allege the attacks took place both on and off school grounds and came after Jacob befriended Tom, who has autism, on Snapchat and began bombarding him with sexually explicit images.

Jacob then allegedly performed sex acts on Tom – so nauseating they could not be described in detail – and hit him across the back five times with a rope, according to a police document tendered to the children’s court.

Police will allege that Jacob’s behavior towards Tom took a huge toll on both the boy and his family, and that Jacob threatened to harm himself when Tom tried to distance himself from the friendship.

In court documents, NSW Police allege Jacob is a repeat child molester, with a history of “continually engaging in unsolicited and unwanted sexual (crime) towards other people without their consent.”

“The young person has a disturbing infatuation with (imposing) sexual behavior on others and himself,” the document said.

“(Also) shows violence towards his victims if they do not comply with his demands.”

How the police investigation took shape

A whistleblower told Daily Mail Australia that concerns were raised at the school about Jacob’s behavior in August 2023 after students disclosed alarming information to their families.

The whistleblower said the school was told that Jacob had allegedly sent explicit photos to peers and solicited others in return, and that he had pressured other students to perform sex acts.

Jacob had also reportedly bragged to peers that he had been accused of raping a younger relative, which resulted in him being removed from his family home and placed in out-of-home care.

However, the whistleblower claims that school staff dismissed the alleged behavior as “boys being boys” and that the admitted sex offender “also had a right to go to school.”

Tom’s relatives took it outside the school and reported the matter to the police, after which an investigation was launched.

Jacob was subsequently charged in December with four charges relating to his interactions with Tom, including assault, physical assault, stalking or intimidation and using a carriage service to send indecent material.

However, the whistleblower claims that even while police investigated, Jacob was allowed to remain enrolled at the school until he was eventually forced to leave in January.

During that time, Tom was initially forced to continue attending the same school as his alleged attacker, before ultimately refusing to attend.

That’s what the court documents claimed during that time, Tom has “become withdrawn for fear of being attacked by the younger one.”

‘The victim and his parents believe he can no longer go to school because of the young person’s sexual and aggressive behavior towards the victim.’

The case is currently before the children’s court.

Since the charges in December, Daily Mail Australia understands Jacob has been charged with multiple other offenses relating to separate cases.

NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia it could not comment on the police investigation as the cases are before the Children’s Court.

Education Minister Prue Car was contacted for comment.

School system under fire

A former employee of Youth Justice NSW’s sex offender program – which oversees support services for accused young people – told Daily Mail Australia the school would likely have known about Jacob’s criminal background.

The ex-child protection worker said a comprehensive assessment of the child’s history would have been carried out at the time of registration as he was enrolled in a special needs school.

She said any warning signs or behavioral issues — including previous interactions with police — should be documented by staff as part of the intake process and when developing student behavior plans.

Additionally, she said any additional information that may arise later would have been added to the student’s file.

However, the insider said the school’s inability to implement a safety plan to effectively manage Jacob’s sexualized behavior exposed systemic problems within the education sector.

While staff at special education schools may be trained to help students with certain behavioral problems, the insider said recognizing risk factors for child abuse is a specialized skill that many teachers do not possess.

“Schools often do not have enough staff with specific training to recognize risky sexualized behavior,” she said.

‘This puts other students at risk and leaves the child exhibiting the behavior in question without support to overcome it.’

The incident raises questions about how many teenage abusers are currently in NSW schools without proper facilities to protect other students.

Although Jacob also has the right to an education, a school whistleblower accused the school system of gross negligence by failing to act decisively when concerns were raised.

‘The school has a duty of care. “If you send your children to school, you think they will be safe,” they said.

‘They knew. They were very aware of it.

“But they did nothing to protect them [the other students].’

The NSW Department of Education declined to comment on the case.

*Names changed for legal reasons

For confidential support, please contact:

Lifeline 13 11 14

Children’s helpline 1800 55 1800

1800 RESPECT

By Tita Smith for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 6:17 PM EDT, March 16, 2024 | Updated: 6:30 PM EDT, March 16, 2024

By Mary Mrad for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 5:15 PM EDT, March 13, 2024 | Updated: 5:47 PM EDT, March 13, 2024

A multi-millionaire neighbor in one of Sydney’s wealthiest suburbs has been dealt a bitter blow after losing a costly court battle over six palm trees ruining the view from her $27 million harborside mansion.

Lawyer Georgina Black and her husband, a property manager, live in the trophy home ‘Indah’ ​​with spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House.

But she has just suffered defeat after being beaten in her appeal by Samira Jeihooni, the wife of property developer Arash Tavakoli.

Rose Bay neighbors had fallen out after Ms Black complained that Ms Jeihooni had planted six cabbage palms on her nearby plot in November 2021.

Mrs Black and husband Graham Edwards, head of British property giant Telereal Trillium, had bought their five-bedroom mansion with uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbor in 2015.

Ms Black asked the Land and Environment Court to order Ms Jeihooni to remove the cabbage palms, which can grow up to 15 meters tall.

She said the palms blocked her view of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House from her dining room, kitchen and a first-floor bedroom.

Ms Black insisted that Ms Jeihooni plant a different type of tree, which would not grow taller than 8 metres.

Her planning officer said in her application that four of her neighbours’ palms had a ‘severe and devastating impact’ on her views.

But Ms Jeihooni said the trees provided privacy and shade for her garden, pool and home.

Last year the Land and Environment Court ruled against Ms Black, finding that the palms did not significantly obstruct her view and that Ms Jeihooni had had the trees pruned since the application was made.

Ms Black appealed the ruling but it was dismissed and she has been ordered to pay costs.

Judge Nicola Pain’s ruling came after both sides brought in senior lawyers to fight each other during the appeal hearing.

Judge Pain ruled that there was ‘no error of law in finding that four palm trees did not form a hedge’.

The decision is a bitter blow to Ms Black, who is known as a tough lawyer in her field, and whose purchase of the beautiful waterfront mansion nine years ago was portrayed as a “triumphant return” from Britain for the former private figure from Sydney. schoolgirl.

During the lengthy court battle over Ms Black’s views, Acting Lands and Environment Commissioner Lynne Sheridan said Ms Black’s husband had offered to pay for the palms to be removed.

But that was rejected by Ms Jeihooni’s husband, with Ms Sheridan noting that ‘the nature of the communications between the parties during the hearing convinced me that they were unlikely to reach an agreement’.

In order for the Jeihoonis to cut down their palms, the court had to find that two or more trees formed a hedge and seriously obstructed the view.

While Ms. Black’s arborist said the cabbage palms did indeed form a hedge, Ms. Jeihooni’s arborist said this was not the case and would never happen because their leaves cannot connect.

Ms Sheridan, who visited the site, found that the palms did not form a hedge and gave three reasons in her explanation.

First, she said the trees were not planted close enough together to form a continuous barrier or screen.

“Secondly, I find it unlikely that anyone trying to create a hedge or screen would have planted palm trees which typically have a straight, slender trunk with leaves at the top of the trunk,” Ms Sheridan said.

“Thirdly, there is no sign that these trees were ever maintained as a hedge by (Ms Jeihooni).”

Ms Sheridan added that the trees did little to obstruct Ms Black’s view.

‘For example, my observations on site were that the palms obscure the view of the harbor and the Sydney Harbor Bridge from various seats at the dining table or from a particular view from the kitchen.

“However, the entirety of the view, including views of Sydney Harbour, the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House from other parts of the dining table, dining room, living room, kitchen, secondary living areas and bedrooms, will be retained,” she said.

By Eliza Mcphee and Max Aitchison for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 5:29 PM EST, February 26, 2024 | Updated: 8:22 PM EST, February 26, 2024

By Matt Demarco for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 02:57 EST, January 11, 2024 | Updated: 04:00 EST, January 11, 2024

• Woman found dead on Manly Wharf
• Emergency services rushed to the scene

By Eliza Mcphee for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 11:46 PM EST, January 10, 2024 | Updated: 00:08 EST, January 11, 2024

EXCLUSIVE

An irate motorist fined $2,710 has lashed out at a ‘confusing’ speed sign after being caught on camera driving 12mph over the limit.

Fayaz Khan was driving through the M4 East Tunnel when the speed camera caught him traveling at 40mph in a temporary 25mph zone at around 7pm on November 15.

Mr Khan was one of hundreds of motorists forced to slow on the highway that night after a car broke down in the left lane of eastbound traffic towards Croydon, in Sydney’s west.

The speed limit, which is typically 80 km/h, was lowered to allow vehicle movement and traffic to converge safely in the center and right lanes.

Mr Khan told Daily Mail Australia the 40km/h zone was enforced for more than a kilometer after cars passed the broken down hatchback being towed by two trucks.

Dozens of drivers, including Mr Khan, accelerated safely after passing the obstacle, thinking they were safe – only to be hit with hefty fines just days later.

“They were only towing one little car… but when [drivers] drove by [the tow trucks]the 40 mark [was left] on until after the [speed] cameras,” he said.

“We slowed down to 60 and then to 40 before the incident, and once we got past the incident the 40 stopped [zone] should have been abolished.’

Images from the digital speed camera mounted in the tunnel show motorists driving slower in the center and right lanes, while trucks are parked in the left lane.

A large rectangular sign can be seen with flashing yellow lights telling motorists to merge slowly to the right.

Mr Khan said it was ‘unnecessary’ for the 40km/h zone to be extended far beyond the location of the incident..

“If you go past the incident, you automatically accelerate… you’re gone,” he added.

Mr Khan claims that the dozens of drivers ahead of him at the time would also have been fined because they also accelerated as soon as they passed the broken down car.

He was given until December 21 to nominate a driver and pay the fine or risk paying the full amount.

Mr Khan, who runs a car rental company, was driving a white Audi sedan which was a registered rental car at the time he was ticketed for speeding.

He was charged five times the normal amount because he was driving a car registered to a company at the time of the alleged crime.

A spokesperson for Revenue NSW told Daily Mail Australia that drivers ticketed for speeding in a commercial vehicle can have their fine reduced to $702 by nominating a driver.

Mr Khan said he had not appointed a driver – even though he was driving the vehicle – because he planned to challenge the fine in court.

He uploaded a post on Facebook saying he would consider joining other drivers who were also fined in a class action.

He criticized variable speed limits in the M4 East Tunnel, which he said are frustrating for motorists and can lead to collisions.

‘When you drive [on the] M4 as you approach Parramatta the speed changes three times,” he said.

“You don’t want to cause any accidents… that’s what this is [variable speed limit] do.’

Several motorists have recently been hit with hefty fines while driving through the tunnel, without knowing they had been clocked above the variable speed limit.

A week after Mr Khan was fined for the alleged offence, his friend was fined for a similar offense after he was caught driving 56km/h in a 40km zone in the tunnel.

An Uber driver was fined $481 after driving 45mph in the same zone in 2019, with the offense carrying a loss of four demerit points.

The driver claimed the speed limit was suddenly reduced to 25 miles as he took the Croydon exit.

A spokesperson for Transport for NSW told Daily Mail Australia that several signs had been placed along the highway to warn motorists of changes to speed limits.

“Transport for NSW has taken steps to ensure motorists are aware that variable speed limits are enforced in the tunnels, through the use of advisory signs such as ‘Speed ​​Camera Further Down Tunnel’ and ‘Variable Speed ​​Limit Enforced’,” the said. spokesman.

‘[There are also] illuminated electronic variable speed limit signs that display the current speed limit throughout the tunnels.’

Motorists must slow down to 40km/h when passing tow trucks or emergency vehicles for speed limits of 80km/h or less on roads in NSW.

Variable speed limit signs are installed in tunnels and highways to ensure that motorists can adapt to changing traffic conditions.

These speed limits are displayed via electronic signs with the speed limit in a red circle.

Drivers caught driving more than 12 miles over the limit face a $542 fine.

The latest figures from Revenue NSW show more than 4,800 fines have been issued to motorists caught speeding in the eastbound M4 East Tunnel, totaling more than $2.3 million.

More than 2,400 drivers were fined in August, amounting to approximately $1.3 million.

Drivers in NSW can be fined up to $2,794 if they drive 45km/h or more on NSW roads, including tunnels and highways.

The M4 East Tunnel is part of the $16.8 billion WestConnex road and tunnel project, introduced by the NSW Government to reduce traffic from Sydney’s west to the east.

The tunnel, which opened in July 2019, connects the M4 in Sydney’s west, including Parramatta, to the city’s east, saving motorists more than half an hour in travel time.

The final phase of WestConnex was unveiled last month when the Rozelle interchange opened to commuters connecting the M4 to the Anzac Bridge and the M8 to the City West Link and Victoria Road.

By Freddy Pawle for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 05:16 EST, January 2, 2024 | Updated: 05:25 EST, January 2, 2024

By Marta Jary for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 6:55 AM EST, December 29, 2023 | Updated: 06:59 EST, December 29, 2023