St Paul’s College bullying scandal: Sick details emerge of alleged ‘mock trial’ that led to mass expulsion

Sickening details have emerged after one of Sydney’s most prestigious colleges was forced to suspend or expel over 20 students.

2GB’s breakfast show host Ben Fordham has reported that a “sex toy” was allegedly forced upon a college student in an attempt to gag them during a mock trial held within the college grounds.

Fordham said a mock trial was presided over by a group of students who proclaimed themselves as a judge, defence attorneys and prosecutors.

The group who performed the mock trial allegedly found the student at the centre of the allegations guilty, and the fake judge handed down sentencing as the defendant attempted to speak on their behalf.

The judge allegedly proclaimed others in the room should gag the defendant, and at this point, a sex toy-style gag was produced and placed into the mouth of the alleged defendant.

Reports claim that initially the trial was intended to be lighthearted and the victim was going along with it, but according to Fordham “things started to spiral”.

The gag used was described as one that would be purchased at an adult shop.

The defendant was then allegedly verbally abused and restrained by other students.

Security footage has reportedly been used to identify every person who came and went from the room at the college and the students involved in performing the harrowing acts.

Three students involved in the alleged abuse are reported to have been elected to the college’s senior leadership group. One has reportedly been expelled and the two others have been suspended pending investigations.

St Paul’s College was an all-boys school for 170 years before going co-ed in 2023 to potentially make the college safer for all students and hopefully stamp out a culture of hazing and poor behaviour from pockets of male students.

Six students were expelled and 21 more were suspended from St Paul’s College at the University of Sydney after the incident.

St Paul’s warden Dr Ed Loane said the college was “shocked and deeply disappointed” in the students’ actions, saying the behaviour runs “contrary to our values and standards”.

“Our response, upon learning of this and conducting a thorough investigation, has been to expel the perpetrators and suspend the bystanders who failed to intervene,” Dr Loane told the SMH.

He told the outlet that residents were being provided support after the alleged incident and that the college would “review and strengthen” the anti-bullying and harassment training it gives new residents when they enrol.

St Paul’s is one of six residential colleges at the University of Sydney and home to about 420 students.

A University of Sydney spokesperson told the SMH it supported the disciplinary action taken against St Paul’s residents over the latest alleged bullying incident. The spokesperson also approved the college’s commitment to review its student training programs.

NSW Police said they were aware of media reports regarding the alleged incident but no reports had been lodged by the school, witnesses or a victim.