Six year old sexually abused at recess, cries for mummy went unheard

Disabled schoolgirl, 6, lured to toilet and sexually abused by 4 primary school boys at recess had her cries for mummy muffled by toilet paper.

The case has come to light after the girl’s mother decided earlier this year to sue the Department of Education for failing to protect her child, who suffers from physical and intellectual disabilities.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the NSW school, in the Illawara region is being accused of failure to not only properly supervise students in their care, but also respond appropriately when reports of assaults were made.

When the six-year-old girl returned to her classroom after recess her teacher noticed something was askew. Her uniform was inside out, whereas before recess she had been wearing it the right way.

What unfolded was that a shocking incident had taken place at recess where a group of four young boys had lured the little girl into the toilet and sexually abused her.

It is alleged that after the boys lured the school girl into the bathroom, two boys stood guard while two others abused the little girl and muffled her screams with toilet paper.

Her mother said she told staff to let her daughter play only in the enclosed special-needs playground, but she was allowed access to the mainstream playground when the boys targeted her.

“She was calling for mummy and that is when they used the toilet paper to shut her up,” she said. “The boys had been targeting younger and vulnerable kids. She is suffering from nightmares and flashbacks all the time. The stress is insurmountable.”

There is discrepancy over the ages of the boys involved in the attack, with police saying two boys involved in the assault were aged 5 and 9, while the mother said her daughter identified the four boys who were aged nine to 11.

A Department of Education spokesman said the matter was referred to the Department of Family and Community Services and police.

“The NSW Department of Education’s Employee and Conduct Directorate investigated the response of staff to the alleged sexual assault,” he said. “Appropriate action was taken following the investigation.”

NSW Police spokesman said “due to the age of the alleged involved parties, a determination was made that no further police action would be taken”.

News Limited reports that documents obtained under freedom of information laws show three other alleged incidents of sexual assault at the school, one two days later when two boys pulled a male student into the toilets and sexually assaulted him, and another a week later when a victim was assaulted in the girls’ toilet by a fellow student.

NSW Police told the newspaper “due to the age of the alleged involved parties, a determination was made that no further police action would be taken”.

For help: Lifeline 13 11 14. Kid’s Helpline: 1800 55 1800

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32 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 14 Sep 2021
    12:53 pm
This is just so shocking. I certainly hope that these boys get the mental health help that they need asap.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 23 Nov 2016
    5:24 pm
Oh my word! How disgusting! It worries me what will happen now and what these boys will grow into if they’re this bad now! Being that they are under age they will probably get a slap on the wrist and where is the justice for the family and that poor little girl!

- - mom134803 said
  - 22 Nov 2016
    3:41 am
I get very upset reading this story. How traumatic is this ! When she was calling for mummy they used the toilet paper to shut her up…. That the boys have been targeting younger and vulnerable kids sound very deliberate and prepared. I can imagine the girl is suffering from nightmares and flashbacks all the time.
Not good there is discrepancy over the age as police is saying two boys involved in the assault were aged 5 and 9, while the mother said her daughter identified the four boys who were aged nine to 11. To be honest I don’t know if boys age 5-9 are able to sexual assault so deliberately
younger vulnerable kids….sounds to me the age indication mum gives is more right.
Hope all kids involved get thoroughly counseling & help.

- - deb_gs said
  - 30 Sep 2016
    8:43 pm
Children at this age should not be sexually active let alone forcing their will on others. I hope the boys’ parents have looked at their home environments and themselves and made changes for the better.

- - mom203703 said
  - 24 Sep 2016
    1:12 pm
Disgusting! Those boys are future molestors! They’re names should be put on the watch list now and when it happens again locked up in some scummy prison never to see the light of day again! That families of these boys should be well ashamed! Police should be persecuting these disputable boys for the acts they have committed & then investigating the families. They’ve learnt the behaviour from somewhere ????????????

- - jodiev1980 said
  - 11 Sep 2016
    5:49 pm
Why is this sort of thing happening more and more now? Or are we just hearing about it more. That poor little girl it is just disgusting what she has been through!

- - mom101628 said
  - 08 Sep 2016
    9:40 pm
Just can’t imagine the trauma this little girl will suffer for a very long time. The boys must have action taken against them, otherwise they will continue to do this horrific thing to others and it will continue. These boys would know what they are doing is wrong, otherwise they wouldn’t have had two of their members outside the block to warn them.

- - mom201125 said
  - 06 Sep 2016
    8:14 pm
I’m confused, is this different to the sexual assault on the 6 year old girl at Mona Vale public school, northern beaches? have you gotten your information wrong, or is this a new attack?

- - Apey96 said
  - 04 Sep 2016
    2:14 pm
Awful! How are these boys even thinking of things like this at that age?

- - mom71809 said
  - 02 Sep 2016
    8:18 pm
I find this really disturbing both in that I grew up in the Illawarra which used to be a place of innocence and the fact it appears our children are not safe in school. This is the second recent case of a sexual assault in NSW primary schools – something needs to be done. Change the toilet blocks, CCTV outside the toilet block, something!

- - mom200481 said
  - 02 Sep 2016
    12:52 pm
So hard to fathom that this could happen and unnoticed. Heart goes out to the family. One certainly should feel assured your children are safe and protected when you entrust them to compulsory learning. I certainly expect that a full and thorough investigation takes place so wherever the system fell down to allow this to happen is reviewed and corrected so that THIS IS NEVER ALLOWED to happen again anywhere. Agree Tina I hope these boys are taught the gravity of the situation and are dealt with accordingly and that all the support and necessary daily rebuilding and counseling is afforded to this beautiful 6 year old soul and family at the GOVERNMENTS EXPENCE. Lots of prayers ????

- - mum4107 said
  - 01 Sep 2016
    9:33 pm
So so sad. That poor little girl.

Those Boys should be facing the children’s court

- - mom117082 said
  - 01 Sep 2016
    3:03 pm
its a shame this had 2 happen and nothing was done 2 protect the little girl
sam1949@rogers.com

- - jess said
  - 01 Sep 2016
    1:43 pm
what the hell is going on at this school these poor kids one incident is one too many, what have the offending boys been subject to for them to even think about doing this to a little girl my god this is terrible all round. the mother definitely needs to sue the school and education department need to change a lot obviously.

- - cherz said
  - 01 Sep 2016
    10:01 am
NSW Police told the newspaper “due to the age of the alleged involved parties, a determination was made that no further police action would be taken”. Not good enough in my eyes and heart.

Praying and thinking of this poor little one with much love.

- - purplehaze said
  - 31 Aug 2016
    12:02 pm
How terribly sad for this poor innocent little girl and her family having to deal with something so awful! Imagine if her dress wasn’t backwards… then maybe it would not have even been noticed, to make things worse.
This has prompted me to have a talk to my kids (again) about who they go places with, and that they can’t really trust anyone.
I can’t believe boys this age are even thinking about things like this, let alone doing them to someone who was an easy target due to her disabilities. Shame on them but shame on their parents for not raising them right. Respect.
The school, police, community and parents of all children involved need to get together so the boys know what they did was wrong and to stop them doing anything like that again.
Unfortunately the law has a minimum limit on the age a child can be charged with offences so that’s why the police have to step back – its because they can’t actually do anything about it.

- - rovermum said
  - 31 Aug 2016
    9:53 am
This brought tears to my eyes and broke my heart. There were so many upsetting things about this – the school’s role, what kind of young boys think this is okay, what is wrong with them, the poor victim and her distress, the parents of the victim and their distress. This is just so upsetting on so many levels. What’s most important now is managing this poor girl’s mental health and that of her parents. They need support, to know that there have been consequences, and swift action taken.

- - mom71187 said
  - 30 Aug 2016
    8:06 pm
If I am the mom of this little girl I would also sue these boys who abused my daughter. They should not get away with their crimes!!!! At such a young age the community has already taught these brats that it’s okay to commit offences against other people because hey nothing will happen to you. This case is just the same with paedophiles and rapist being allowed back to the community and reoffending AGAIN or worst killing like what happened to Jill Meagher. It’s scary to wait and see what these boys can do when they turn teenagers. We need tougher laws.
I know that it wouldn’t take the pain away but I hope her daughter gets through this nightmare. My prayers sent their way.

- - mom112217 said
  - 30 Aug 2016
    11:52 am
A shocking story that will affect the poor girl and yes action does need to be taken!

- - mom94519 said
  - 30 Aug 2016
    11:41 am
A crime is A CRIME, regardless of the ages of the victim or perpetrators. The police determination beggars belief!
- mom94519 replied
  
  30 Aug 2016 , 11:45 am
  My heart goes out to this little girl and her family. The school and the police have both let her down unconscionably. This was not an isolated incident and the victims must have justice and the perpetrators must be punished or they will continue to act in this way in the future with no fear of consequences.