Latest news with #ScotsCollege
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Elite school graduate's ‘risky role' in drug deal
A former high-level rugby player who attended an elite private boarding school has been sentenced for his role in the transportation of several kilos of cocaine. Jake Michael Prindiville, 28, a graduate of the prestigious Scots College in Sydney's leafy eastern suburbs, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years, for supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. In early October 2024, shortly after returning from a holiday abroad, Prindiville became embroiled in a plot to transport 12kg of cocaine – a crime that was referred to as largely 'spontaneous' by the judge and which Prindiville's defence said 'stemmed from an urgent need to obtain money'. Due to the time Prindiville has already spent in rehab, he will be eligible for parole on November 13, 2026. Defence barrister Phillip Boulten SC told the court that his client was offered money to play 'a risky role in someone else's supply of a large commercial quantity of cocaine to someone else'. 'His job was to take possession of the sports bag in which the drugs were located and to be the mechanism by which the intended purchaser would take possession of the drugs,' he said. Mr Boulten said Prindiville only became 'much more aware of the significance of what he was doing' when he 'picked up the bag and could feel that it was a heavy bag'. 'His participation and his knowledge of taking part in supply can be measured in minutes not hours or days,' he said. The court was told Prindiville communicated with a contact named 'Mickey Mouse' in the hours prior to the supply. Following a stint at Connect Global, a rehabilitation centre north of Newcastle, Prindiville's bail was varied in August 2024 to allow him to reside at home under a strict curfew. These conditions were suspended in April 2025 to allow him to travel to work. The court was told Prindiville had struggled with childhood dysfunction, ongoing drug use, and post traumatic stress disorder, making him 'vulnerable'. 'It's made it very difficult for him to lead a stable life,' Mr Boulten said. 'Jail will be quite hard … he's still vulnerable.' While struggling through high school, Prindiville experienced 'vile, disgusting abuse' for which he would eventually receive compensation in early adulthood. 'There is little wonder … hardly any wonder that the offender was an early starter in consuming alcohol and illegal drugs when he was still at school. Like his father, he was smoking cannabis … and as a teenager became much more aware of his mother's family and, therefore, his Aboriginality,' Mr Boulten said. 'Any attempts that he made to make significant inroads into his community from Brewarrina were not really assisted by his mother, who was his only contact in that community.' Mr Boulten added that Prindiville had 'achieved a lot' since his arrest and had 'reasonable prospects' for rehabilitation. 'He's smart, he's very smart. He's held jobs for a while at different places, he attended UTS, he received a real estate licence from TAFE in 2020, and he's maintained several close intimate relationships,' he said. It is also understood Prindiville undertook a brief stint as a personal trainer, according to a since-deleted Instagram account called 'prindi_transformations'. The Crown prosecution conceded the 'exceptional' nature of Prindiville's case. 'There's not much I can say against what Mr Bolton has already said,' he said. Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 Headspace on 1800 650 890 SANE on 1800 18 7263
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- News.com.au
Former Scots College private school rugby player Jake Michael Prindiville jailed for cocaine crime
A former high-level rugby player who attended an elite private boarding school has been sentenced for his role in the transportation of several kilos of cocaine. Jake Michael Prindiville, 28, a graduate of the prestigious Scots College in Sydney's leafy eastern suburbs, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years, for supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. In early October 2024, shortly after returning from a holiday abroad, Prindiville became embroiled in a plot to transport 12kg of cocaine – a crime that was referred to as largely 'spontaneous' by the judge and which Prindiville's defence said 'stemmed from an urgent need to obtain money'. Due to the time Prindiville has already spent in rehab, he will be eligible for parole on November 13, 2026. Defence barrister Phillip Boulten SC told the court that his client was offered money to play 'a risky role in someone else's supply of a large commercial quantity of cocaine to someone else'. 'His job was to take possession of the sports bag in which the drugs were located and to be the mechanism by which the intended purchaser would take possession of the drugs,' he said. Mr Boulten said Prindiville only became 'much more aware of the significance of what he was doing' when he 'picked up the bag and could feel that it was a heavy bag'. 'His participation and his knowledge of taking part in supply can be measured in minutes not hours or days,' he said. The court was told Prindiville communicated with a contact named 'Mickey Mouse' in the hours prior to the supply. Following a stint at Connect Global, a rehabilitation centre north of Newcastle, Prindiville's bail was varied in August 2024 to allow him to reside at home under a strict curfew. These conditions were suspended in April 2025 to allow him to travel to work. The court was told Prindiville had struggled with childhood dysfunction, ongoing drug use, and post traumatic stress disorder, making him 'vulnerable'. 'It's made it very difficult for him to lead a stable life,' Mr Boulten said. 'Jail will be quite hard … he's still vulnerable.' While struggling through high school, Prindiville experienced 'vile, disgusting abuse' for which he would eventually receive compensation in early adulthood. 'There is little wonder … hardly any wonder that the offender was an early starter in consuming alcohol and illegal drugs when he was still at school. Like his father, he was smoking cannabis … and as a teenager became much more aware of his mother's family and, therefore, his Aboriginality,' Mr Boulten said. 'Any attempts that he made to make significant inroads into his community from Brewarrina were not really assisted by his mother, who was his only contact in that community.' Mr Boulten added that Prindiville had 'achieved a lot' since his arrest and had 'reasonable prospects' for rehabilitation. 'He's smart, he's very smart. He's held jobs for a while at different places, he attended UTS, he received a real estate licence from TAFE in 2020, and he's maintained several close intimate relationships,' he said. It is also understood Prindiville undertook a brief stint as a personal trainer, according to a since-deleted Instagram account called 'prindi_transformations'. The Crown prosecution conceded the 'exceptional' nature of Prindiville's case. 'There's not much I can say against what Mr Bolton has already said,' he said.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How a VERY early morning bus ride became a sliding doors moment for Hugo Savala at the Roosters
It is the 80 minutes of footy on four hours of sleep that turned Hugo Savala from a bench utility into the Sydney Roosters' in-form starting halfback. Fresh off a 15-minute spell against Gold Coast in March, Savala, 23, was told by club officials that a bus was leaving for Canberra at 6am the next morning ahead of a NSW Cup game. The dangling carrot was a chance to play a second game in the space of 18 hours for the Tricolours - while playing in the no.7 jersey. 'I reckon I had about four hours sleep,' Savala said this week. 'That did play in the back of my mind, but that hunger inside me just wanted to play another game. 'At that time I had only played a handful of NRL games on 10-15 minute spells. 'And there is (also) nothing worse than waiting a whole week when you come off a bad game.' Savala - a former schoolboy rugby star at Scots College - passed with flying colours in the nation's capital. He seized his opportunity, setting up two tries - and was then called up to replace Chad Townsend at halfback in the NRL a fortnight later. 'From that moment I went (to Canberra), I put my foot down and really concentrated on being a halfback,' Savala said. 'Because I know I am a halfback, I've been one all through my juniors and growing up. 'No.7 for the Roosters has been my dream. 'So it really boosted my confidence when I was starting halfback in the NRL. And it's been good since.' With Savala as playmaker, the Roosters have won six of their past nine matches, going from near the bottom of the ladder to the top eight ahead of Sunday's clash with Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium. His kicking has given them much-needed control, while a new-look, free-flowing next generation of Roosters have averaged 31.8 points per match since Anzac Day in April. 'There has always been a Roosters type of football, the way they have played for the past 10 years,' Savala said. 'We've got a young group coming through, we do play our style of football. It's still the Roosters brand, we're just trying to mould it into the way we play. 'We're certainly starting to find our rhythm. It's not even expansive football, it's just moving and playing for each other.' Coach Trent Robinson showed his hand last month by naming Savala to partner Sam Walker on the latter's aborted return from injury, ahead of Sandon Smith. The obvious sideshow remains the expected signing of veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans for next year, something Savala insists he has not let cloud his mind. 'There is obviously all that talk in the media, but I really am just focusing on my football this year,' he said. 'Play my best football with the team and win as many games as we can going into the finals. That's all I can do.'
Perth Now
04-07-2025
- Perth Now
Ex-private schoolboy's ‘risky role' in drug deal
A former rugby player from a high profile eastern suburbs private school has pleaded guilty to his 'risky role' in a commercial supply of more than 10kg of cocaine. Jake Michael Prindiville, 28. a former young gun for the 1st XV at the exclusive Scots College in Bellevue Hill, attended the Downing Centre District Court on Friday for a sentencing hearing, flanked by his family. Jake Michael Prindiville has pleaded guilty to his role in the drug supply of more than 10kg of cocaine. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia He pleaded guilty to taking part in supplying a prohibited drug in a large commercial quantity, over his involvement in a substantial cocaine supply in Ashfield, in Sydney's inner west in October 2023. The charge carries a maximum potential term of life imprisonment. Defence barrister Phillip Boulten SC told the court his client was offered money to play 'a risky role in someone else's supply of a large commercial quantity of cocaine to someone else'. 'His job was to take possession of the sports bag in which the drugs were located and to be the mechanism by which the intended purchaser would take possession of the drugs,' he said. Mr Boulten said Prindiville only became 'much more aware of the significance of what he was doing' when he 'picked up the bag and could feel that it was a heavy bag'. 'His participation and his knowledge of taking part in supply can be measured in minutes not hours or days,' he said. The court was told Prindiville was in communications with a contact that went by the name of 'Mickey Mouse' in the hours prior to the supply. Jake Michael Prindiville will be sentenced before the District Court on Tuesday, 8 July. Instagram Credit: Supplied Following a stint at Connect Global, a rehabilitation centre north of Newcastle, his bail was varied in August 2024 to allow him to reside at home, under a strict curfew. These conditions were suspended in April 2025, to allow him to travel to employment. The court was told the young man has struggled with childhood dysfunction, ongoing drug use, and post traumatic stress disorder, making him 'vulnerable'. 'It's made it very difficult for him to lead a stable life,' Mr Boulten said. 'Jail will be quite hard … he's still vulnerable.' While struggling through high school, Prindiville experienced 'vile, disgusting abuse' for which he would eventually receive compensation in early adulthood. 'There is little wonder … hardly any wonder that the offender was an early starter in consuming alcohol and illegal drugs when he was still at school. Like his father, he was smoking cannabis … and as a teenager became much more aware of his mother's family and, therefore, his Aboriginality,' Mr Boulten said. 'Any attempts that he made to make significant inroads into his community from Brewarina were not really assisted by his mother who was his only contact in that community.' Mr Boulten added Prindiville had 'achieved a lot' since his arrest and has 'reasonable prospects' for rehabilitation. The Crown Prosecution conceded the 'exceptional' nature of Prindiville's case. 'There's not much I can say against what Mr Boulten has already said.' Judge Michael Smith stood the matter over to next Tuesday for sentencing.
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- News.com.au
Former Scots College rugby player admits to role in large drug supply
A former rugby player from a high profile eastern suburbs private school has pleaded guilty to his 'risky role' in a commercial supply of more than 10kg of cocaine. Jake Michael Prindiville, 28. a former young gun for the 1st XV at the exclusive Scots College in Bellevue Hill, attended the Downing Centre District Court on Friday for a sentencing hearing, flanked by his family. He pleaded guilty to taking part in supplying a prohibited drug in a large commercial quantity, over his involvement in a substantial cocaine supply in Ashfield, in Sydney's inner west in October 2023. The charge carries a maximum potential term of life imprisonment. Defence barrister Phillip Boulten SC told the court his client was offered money to play 'a risky role in someone else's supply of a large commercial quantity of cocaine to someone else'. 'His job was to take possession of the sports bag in which the drugs were located and to be the mechanism by which the intended purchaser would take possession of the drugs,' he said. Mr Boulten said Prindiville only became 'much more aware of the significance of what he was doing' when he 'picked up the bag and could feel that it was a heavy bag'. 'His participation and his knowledge of taking part in supply can be measured in minutes not hours or days,' he said. The court was told Prindiville was in communications with a contact that went by the name of 'Mickey Mouse' in the hours prior to the supply. Following a stint at Connect Global, a rehabilitation centre north of Newcastle, his bail was varied in August 2024 to allow him to reside at home, under a strict curfew. These conditions were suspended in April 2025, to allow him to travel to employment. The court was told the young man has struggled with childhood dysfunction, ongoing drug use, and post traumatic stress disorder, making him 'vulnerable'. 'It's made it very difficult for him to lead a stable life,' Mr Boulten said. 'Jail will be quite hard … he's still vulnerable.' While struggling through high school, Prindiville experienced 'vile, disgusting abuse' for which he would eventually receive compensation in early adulthood. 'There is little wonder … hardly any wonder that the offender was an early starter in consuming alcohol and illegal drugs when he was still at school. Like his father, he was smoking cannabis … and as a teenager became much more aware of his mother's family and, therefore, his Aboriginality,' Mr Boulten said. 'Any attempts that he made to make significant inroads into his community from Brewarina were not really assisted by his mother who was his only contact in that community.' Mr Boulten added Prindiville had 'achieved a lot' since his arrest and has 'reasonable prospects' for rehabilitation. The Crown Prosecution conceded the 'exceptional' nature of Prindiville's case. 'There's not much I can say against what Mr Boulten has already said.'
