Callum Ferris Davies: Why alleged predator accused of sexually assaulting and taping shut the mouth of seven-year-old girl after breaking into he Ellenbrook home denies responsibility

A student who allegedly strangled and sexually assaulted a sleeping girl after breaking into her home claims he was suffering from a psychotic disorder, a court case has revealed.

Callum Ferris Davies, 28, is alleged to have carried out the terrifying attack at a home in Ellenbrook, north-east Perth, on December 27, 2021.

Davies is believed to have climbed through the property’s bathroom window just after midnight.

He is said to have entered the bedroom of the seven-year-old girl, whom he does not know, and put his hands over her mouth.

He then allegedly covered her mouth with a piece of tape, after which the girl was strangled and sexually abused.

The Edith Cowan University graduate has not denied committing the offence but has pleaded not guilty on the grounds of mental health issues. The Western Australian reported.

He claims he was suffering from psychosis at the time and did not know what he was doing, the Western Australian District Court heard on Tuesday.

Davies is charged with sexual penetration and assault of a child under 13, intimidating the breathing of another person and aggravated burglary of a dwelling.

The court heard that Davies had been smoking cannabis and drinking on the night of the alleged incident.

He then walked through several streets in Ellenbrook, where surveillance footage showed him jumping over a fence. He later allegedly broke into the girl’s home.

Davies, who has autism spectrum disorder, told detectives during a police interview played in court that he never intended to harm the girl.

He claimed he was looking for an opportunity to commit a “petty theft.”

I don’t know why I [allegedly] did what i [allegedly] “I did,” Davies said.

Davies (pictured centre) claims he was suffering from psychosis at the time of the incident and didn’t know what he was doing

Davies told police during questioning played in court that he had strangled the young girl so that she would ‘lose consciousness’.

He admitted that he took off her clothes after the victim urinated in her pants.

“I don’t even know why I did that,” he told police.

“I should have just left the room after I cleaned her up. When I saw how upset she was, I stopped. I didn’t really like it.”

During another police interview, played on the opening day of the trial, the young victim said she did not know whether the alleged incident was a “nightmare or real”.

She said Davies allegedly told her to be quiet and then he took off her pants and did something to her genitals.

She said she woke up the next day wearing a different shirt and had scratches that weren’t there the day before.

The court heard Davies’ DNA was found on the girl and in her bedroom after the alleged incident was reported to police.

Davies was arrested two days later after handing himself in to police following a large-scale manhunt.

Davies turned himself in to police two days later after a massive manhunt. The photo shows officers at the crime scene

Prosecutor Stuart Packham told the court that while it was accepted that Davies may have an intellectual disability, the severity of the illness was disputed.

The court was also told that Davies attempted suicide after being questioned by police again in February 2022, after which he was taken to a mental health facility.

He was later released from hospital and transferred to Fiona Stanley Hospital, where he remained for several weeks.

Mr Packham told the court Davies had been able to control himself and knew what he was doing was wrong.

Experts will testify at the trial that Davies was psychotic at the time of the alleged crimes.

The process continues.

If you require counselling or support, please contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Sexual Assault Counselling Australia 1800 211 028 or Lifeline 13 11 14.