Swim coach at prestigious $27,000 a year private school is charged with child crimes – when principal breaks his silence
- Benjamin Allen, 33, charged with child crimes
- He coached at Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane
A former swimming coach at one of Australia’s most prestigious private schools – which costs more than $27,000 a year – has been charged with child offences.
Benjamin Allen, 33, was resigned as head swimming coach at Brisbane’s Anglican Church Grammar School, known as Churchie, in November last year after allegedly nursing a child and committing a sexual act under false pretenses.
Police will allege Allen committed the crimes with a child – who was not a student at Churchie – in East Brisbane on October 10, 2022.
Principal Dr Alan Campbell said Allen’s employment was terminated as soon as he learned the former swimming director was being investigated by child protection detectives.
“Mr. Allen had entered a period of annual furlough (abroad) when the allegations were brought to us,” said Dr Campbell.
“The school made sure he didn’t return to the school or the swim club and left permanently.”
Benjamin Allen, 33, (pictured) has been charged with allegedly taking care of a child under 16
Allen was the Principal of Brisbane’s prestigious Anglican Church Grammar School, which has $27,000 plus annual school fees
“The school was naturally very concerned about the allegations and took immediate action that reinforces our commitment to maintaining the protection of our youth as our top priority.”
According to social media, Allen had been working at the school since May 2018.
He married his wife in a lavish ceremony in the Sunshine Coast hinterland in 2021, with the couple welcoming their first child, a daughter, last year.
An archived section of the school’s website claimed that Allen “worked to strengthen and expand the ways Churchie Aquatics serves the community.”
The page has since been removed.
Allen’s case will be heard in Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 24.
Allen, who had worked at the school for more than four years, was resigned in November
