Port Macquarie alleged rape: Man arrested for allegedly dragging 18-year-old stranger into sand dunes while she was on her way to watch the Matildas
Port Macquarie alleged rape: Man arrested for allegedly dragging an 18-year-old stranger into sand dunes as she made her way to watch the Matildas
- Man, 25, accused of allegedly sexually assaulting 18-year-old
- He allegedly forced the girl into the sand dunes to attack her
- She was on her way to watch the Matildas semifinal
A man has been arrested for allegedly forcing an 18-year-old girl into the sand dunes and raping her on her way to a World Cup match in a quiet beach town.
Footage shows the 25-year-old suspect being arrested at around 5.15pm on Wednesday at a home in Port Macquarie on the north coast of NSW.
The bearded man, wearing a black shirt and tan pants, was handcuffed and escorted by detectives to a waiting police vehicle.
Police allege the teenager was walking around 8.30pm on August 16 to watch Matildas’ semi-final against England when the alleged horror incident unfolded.
The suspect was taken away Port Macquarie Police Station, where he was charged with one charge of having sexual intercourse without consent and another charge of sexually touching another person without consent.
He appeared before the Port Macquarie local court on Thursday afternoon, where he was refused bail and charged until his next appearance on October 19.
Police said the alleged victim was waiting to meet with friends before the game, which was shown live at the Town Beach Park Amphitheatre.
Officers further allege that while waiting on Stewart Street, the teenager was approached by a man she did not know, forced into the sand dunes and sexually assaulted before the alleged assailant fled the scene on foot.
Police confirmed that officers arrived on the scene shortly after the teenager reported the incident to police.
“Detectives attached to the Mid North Coast Police District and the Sex Crimes Squad of the State Crime Command are starting Strike Force Belsham to investigate the incident,” read a statement from NSW Police.
Detective Inspector Peter O’Reilly said police had searched large areas of Port Macquarie for the alleged attacker.
Footage shows the 25-year-old suspect was arrested at around 5.15pm on Wednesday at a home in Port Macquarie on the north coast of NSW, after an extensive police investigation led by Strike Force Belsham was launched.
Police said the alleged victim was waiting to meet friends before the game, which was shown live at the Town Beach Park Amphitheatre.
Police have also stepped up patrols in the streets near the beach since the attack.
“All avenues of investigation are open to us and we have done a lot of work since this incident was reported to the police,” he said.
“We have worked with many members of the community and surveyed many areas around Port Macquarie.”